:J+,:?+9zd&g:f ".i;"*+~i~~+eb<,"*+t An Irish Officer in the BY F. W. VANBROCK *'*t.;:%o.'tt. ;3*$iT;=g:&r+, l-+++ ,, &;;Q French Service Republican France. It had taken generals Oliver Harty was born on 2 December, such as Hoche, Marceau and Humbert to 1746, at Aney or Knockainey in the break the VendCans in 1795, and in 1800, barony of Small County in Co. Limerick. one of the men who were to force He was the son of Thomas Harty and Cadoudal to come to terms was an Margaret Shee."' He joined the regiment Patterns of Irishman, Oliver Harty, major-general in of Clare (later Berwick) as a cadet on 16 Insurrection the armies of the French Republic, one September, 1762, when under sixteen. He and indivisible. served in the Ile de France (Mauritius) In the last decade of the eighteenth century there were risings in the western provinces of France against the authority bf the revolutionary gbvernment in Paris. They were spread over seven years, with periods of uneasy peace, from 10 March, 1793, to 18 February, 1800. The risings in Brittany had characteristics of their own. ~rittai~,before the Revolution, was a semi-autonomous province bound to the French crown by the treaty of 1532. The Bretons, who had rebelled in 1675 against a new form of taxation, stamped paper, were not going to put up with the conscription of their young men, decreed anti der atm4es catholiyuei by the National Convention on 23 February, 1793, and, being an intensely religious people, they stood by their refractory or non-juring priests who refused to submit to the Civil Constitution of the clergy (12 July, 1790). The age-old antagonism between town and country was given fresh vigour as townspeople were mostly republican in sympathy and the National Guard was recruited among them. New landowners who had acquired biens nationaux, the property of the church or of &migr&s,also were objects of hatred. It would be hopeless to attempt to draw a parallel between the Vendkan or Breton risings and the Wexford rising, but they had points in common, such as spectacular successes in the capture of towns, and these risings generated unusual leaders. Fathers John and Michael Murphy have their counterparts in Cathelineau, a mason turned carrier, and Stofflet, a gamekeeper, in Vendke, and in Cadoudal, a notary's clerk, and Guillemot and Mercier, both small farmers, in Brittany. The greatest difference between these risings is that Brittany, France's Celtic &d CathoIic bulwark, received more help from Royalist passport claiming to have been issued in the first year of the reign of Protestant England than Ireland did from Louis XVII, rather than in the first year of the Revolution. The drownings at Nantes, from an engraving by Duplessis-Bertraux. and the Ile Bourbon (Reunion) in 1771 commandant of Mortagne in Normandy general, not a political creature, though and 1772, and was promoted sub- and took part in the Bantry Bay he enjoyed the goodwill of Lieutenant- lieutenant on 20 July, 1774, a slow start in expedition, in which he commanded the General Henry Clarke.(O what was to be a reasonably successful Foreign Brigade (the skeleton regiments career. He was second-captain of of Lee, O'Meara, Ferdut and Lachstre). The Terrain grenadiers and a knight of Saint Louis at After Rear-Admiral Bouvet had left the the time of the Revolution. A lieutenant- bay in a hurry, Harty, as senior general The first division of the Armee colonel of the regiment of Berwick on 25 officer present, presided over 'a sort of dtAngleterre occupied the thirteenth July, 1791, he was promoted colonel on council of war' on the Indornptable with military division (or district) which 13 December, 1792, and major-general on generals Humbert and Ch6rin and other covered the four dipartements of CBtes- 15 May, 1793. Harty had undoubtedly officers, including Adjudant-General du-Nord, Finistkre, Ille-et-Vilaine and embraced the new ideas. When serving Smith, better known as Wolfe Tone. Morbihan, or most of the former under Major-General Kellermann in Weather conditions being hopeless, the province of Brittany. The gulf known in Alsace in 1791, he denounced the decision was taken to leave the bay and Breton as Mor Bihan (Little Sea) gave its 'incivism' of most of the officers of the Harty narrowly escaped drowning when name to the dipartement which occupies regiment when they emigrated, returning to his ship, L'EO~~.'~)The defeat most of that part of Lower Brittany preserved the colours and the regimental of Commodore Bompard's squadron off known as Bro ere^.'^) Its area is 2,738 4 crest and prevented most of the regiment the coast of Donegal on 12 October, 1798, square miles and there is a fair-sized from going over to the enemy. He then put an end to French attempts to land in coastline with the Quiberon peninsula, a volunteered for service in Santo Ireland and the left wing of the Armke very vulnerable point, and such deep Domingo, where he avenged Governor d'Angleterre under General Kilmaine indentations as-the estuaries of the Rouxel de Blanchelande's defeat at Les was stationed in Normandy, Brittany and Blavet, Etel, Crach and Penerf rivers, to Platons, and was appointed provisional Vendee. Harty was appointed comm- say nothing of the gulf of Morbihan, governor of the southern province. andant of the Morbihan sub-division, studded with islands, the largest of Having fallen foul of Commissioner with headquarters in Vannes, and took which are Arz, Ile-aux-Moines, Boede, Polverel, he was accused in his turn of over there from Colonel Bonte in the last Tascon and Gavrinis, famous for its incivism, imprisoned for seventy days decade of Thermidor year seven of the tumulus. Off the coast, there are the and sent back to France, which he only Republic (8-17 August, 1799).'" He was islands of Groix, Belle-Ile-en-Mer, Houat reached with an impaired health after fifty-three years old at the time, a and Hoedic, which had to be heavily being captured and imprisoned by the handsome man slightly over five foot garrisoned at the time, as the threat of British in Bermuda, from which he ten, fair-haired, blue-eyed with an further British landings could not be managed to escape to Charleston. Back in aquiline nose."' lIe was a modest man . -1ected. About one-quarter of the area France, his conduct was vindicated, his but not lacking in assurance. To quote of Morbihan is unproductive heath rank was restored to him (18 May, 1795) him: 'As to my abilities, allow me to say dotted with several large forests, and and he was employed inkthe armee des they are solely military ... My successful after the unsuccessf~~lChouan"' attack on CBtes de Cherbourg, in the armee des record warrants that I can usefully serve Vannes in October, 1799, Harty could CBtes de I'Ocean, was for a short time the Nation.'"'He definitely was a fighting point out that not only were there sixteen was a younger man than Harty, as he was born on 1 January, 1771, and youth may be a greater asset than experience in irregular warfare. And he had experience too. He had joined the imigris at Quiberon in June, 1795, and as the republicans were bottling up the troaps on the peninsula, Cadoudal, under phe orders of the Chevalier de TintCniac, h@ sailed with 'the red army', thr'ee thousand five hundred Chouans and a hundred men of Loyal Emigrant, from Quiberon to Suscinio Bay (ten and a half miles south of Vannes). They were to have taken the republicans in the rear but had been sent on a wild goose chase to Saint-Brieuc. TintCniac had been killed and Cadoudal had brought his 'red army' back to Morbihan. The red coats supplied by the British had given this army its name. In June, 1796, Cadoudal had submitted to General Hoche. His Chouans were officially disarmed, though few weapons were handed in. Cadoudal exercised almost absolute power over his followers. Harty could of course have had deserters shot. In the territory he controlled Cadoudal could issue orders forbidding 'any young man under forty' to get married (and thus avoid being enrolled in a Chouan legion) and did so on 23 November, 1799. In 1798, Cadoudal had been deputed to England to lay before the Count of Artois the wishes and grievances of the royalists. It was still hoped that the count The slaughter of royalists in the Vendke. could be prevailed on to land in France and lead the royalist armies. Then, on 15 different ways of entering the town, but Knight of Saint Louis. His top-ranking September, 1799, royalist leaders met at that its neighbourhood was well officers held commissions dated from the Chateau de la Jonchere near PouancC wooded. That forced him to keep a large Edinburgh and signed by H.R.H. the in Anjou (Maine-et-Loire) to consider number of troops in the town to protect it Count of Artois. A legion would reopening hostilities. Some leaders were and-the 'precious supplies' it contained."' nominally be the equivalent of a irresolute. Cadoudal's determination Morbihan provided ample ground for republican demi-brigade, viz. about 3,000 brought the question to a decision: on 15 caches and hidden concentrations of men. Each parish supplied a company of October, 1799, the Catholic and royal Chouan bands. It was ideally suited for varying strength. There is almost general army would strike. guerrilla warfare, for sudden attacks on agreement that Cadoudal had 18,500 foot towns or government troops, and and a more doubtful 200 horse. A pursued Chouans would simply dissolve Whenever higher figures are given, the Hostile Country in the friendly countryside. A glance at a reason often is that civilian authorities The first thing that would strike a contemporary map such as Cassini's increased the numbers of the enemy to newcomer to Morbihan was the fact that reveals the inadequacy of the road get the government to send more troops there might be a republican adminis- network, added to which several days' to Brittany. Thus Cadoudal has been tration and republican troops but the marching might be necessary to link credited with 30,$00 tr~ops.''~'That seems writ of the republic did not run far Vannes with various outlying towns in improbable, even taking into account the outside Vannes. Harty, reporting that the Harty's command, such as Gourin in the fact that a lot of recruiting had been stage-coach from Nantes to Lorient had north-west of the dipartement (sixty-one going on. Harty reported that Chouan been held up near La Roche-Bernard by miles away), Mauron in the north-east 'embaucheurs' (recruiters) were active. fifty brigands, pointed out that 'the (forty-one miles away). How willing the recruits were is a matter Chouan hordes have so many friends, so open to debate. Parents would encourage many spies, in the country that they will their sons to join and then would go and always be warned in time of the The Enemy complain to the authorities.(") On 3 movements of the troops that are seeking The population of Morbihan amounted December, 1799, Harty estimated there them,' besides which they had the means to about 415,000 inhabitants, 300,000 of were between twelve and fifteen of scattering and hiding in the houses of whom might be presumed to have thousand Chouans in Morbihan, which the country people 'who either out of fear royalist sympathies, though only one- seems an underestirnati~n.('~' or by design often give them a safe third of those would be prepared to aid Cadoudal was a formidable adver- asylum'.(13)If the Chouans were informed and abet the Chouans. The government sary. Though- of peasant stock, he of the moves of the republicans, the might refer to them as brigands, or, with outshone the other royalist leaders, many -converse was not true. 'The inhabitants more restraint, as malcontents, but they of them men of noble birth who had are-so apathetic or illdisposed that one were an organized force with their own taken up a military career. He was a cannot draw from them the slightest hierarchy. Harty had kkdeal with eight tremendously thickset man, a couple of notion. They will not admit the legions of the Catholic and Royal army inches shorter than Harty, with light- protection they give the murderers under Major-General Georges Cadoudal, brown hair cropped short li la Titus. He because most of them are their accomplices either out of fear or out of and lukewarm republicans, besides sympathy.'!I4' There was ample evidence which some units almost had a tradition that a far-flung organization was active. of insubordination. In 1797, the 52nd Information was relayed by windmills. demi-brigade had refused to go to Belle- they were even taken from 'The Chouans are warned of the least of Ile where they would lack everything. Lieutenant-General Taponier succe our movements by the windmills that are 'One could have them shot, they would used as a telegraph and by women, never change their minds."24'Harty's men posted on heights, who repeat the signals might also be guilty of most unmilitary agreed on."'5' A column on the march actions such as sawing a couple of inches would hear shots fired at intervals giving off their musket barrels to lighten them farther away, for Taponier had ideas of warning of its appr~ach."~'At night, by a quarter of pound.!25'The troops were his own. On 30 October, 1799, when beacons were lit along the coast. That led ill-fed, as they were supposed to feed Harty intended to attack Chouans at one to presume the Chouans were themselves in part with their pay, but Bizole (a village five miles east of expecting money and arms to be landed their pay was months in arrears. In Vannes) with six companies of the third from some Briiish ship.!I7' Orders issued February, 1800, the men of the 52nd had battalion of the 52nd which he had in the thirteenth military division show not been paid for six months.@6'It was a summoned from Auray, he discovered that it was out of the that a man constant headache for Harty to see that that General Taponier had detailed them or a small party should be allowed out of taxes were collected as a means of paying elsewhere and so, instead of assuming a town. Men leaving hospital were to his men. The troops were ill-clad. Three the offensive, Harty had to stand on the wait until they could join a col~rnn."~' companies of the 58th at Ploermel had to defen~ive.'~~'On another occasion, Major do without new uniforms. 'Their clothing Declaye of the 82nd had ordered a Harty's Troops is said to be ready but the difficulty of hundred men to Theix (five and a half transport and the fear of seeing these miles south-east of Vannes) when Harty's force was small compared with clothes become the prey of the Chouans General Taponier arrived with four Cadoudal's. Shortly before the Chouan has [sic] prevented the colonel of the 58th hundred men and finally everyone was attack on Vannes, it comprised 7,722 man sending them'.'271 marched off to Muzillac (fourteen and a (6,387 infantry, 955 artillery and 380 Desertion had at all times been the half miles south-east of Vannes) and the cavalry) to whom may be added 382 bane of the troops of the republic. Harty Abbaye de Prieres where the Chouans national guards. 2,569 men were could rely on veterans but not on were supposed to have hidden arms. No stationed on Belle-Ile, 209 on Groix and conscripts. In his report of 16 December, arms were found, and Taponier had once 242 on the Quiberon peninsula, which 1799, he wrote: 'The royalist leaders ... more interfered with Harty's plans.!331 left 4,702 men at Harty's immediate also try to induce the troops to desert ... disposal to garrison towns and send The 81st 1/2 Bde has already lost a lot of 'mobile' (or flying) columns to scour the men in the past few days. Twenty-six Routine in Vannes 2,783 square miles of Morbihan and keep men have deserted with arms and The first thing Harty did when he 18,500 Chouans at bay.!19' All Harty's baggage from the post at Port-Navalo (at arrived in Vannes was to ask for four or units were under strength. The strongest the mouth of the gulf of Morbihan) ... In five hundred men and he did not want unit Harty could boast of was the 52nd Vannes conscripts leave by sixes and conscripts unless they were well trained. demi-brigade with 2,739 effectives, then nines at a time. Three were caught He also reported that the people of came the weaker demibrigades, the 81st yesterday as they were climbing over a Morbihan were disaffe~ted.'~'His reports the 1 (1,387 men), the 82nd (1,482 men), the wall ... Instead of this corps guarding the show that he was kept busy. There were Colq first battalion of the 58 (656 men), a town at present, I find myself in a way futile incidents and more alarming ones, with detachment of the first battalion of the obliged to have it guarded, the conscripts too. A small band of Chouans attacked f0ll0' 6th light demi-brigade (53 men), two that is, for the small number of old the town of Guer (thirty-six miles north- r. squadrons of light horse, the 2nd soldiers that remain in it behave well, east of Vannes) in an unsettled area and regiment of artillery (684 men), various except that they complain bitterly ... at the national guards had not done their 4 small units, mostly gunners and 'ouvriers not getting any meat and, what is worse, duty. Fifteen Chouans attacked the On l d'artillerie' and two companies of any money ..."28'It was hard for some gendarmerie barracks at Rochefort-en- Thel: National Veterans (70 men). In addition, men to resist Chouan propaganda, some Terre (twenty-one miles east of in sq to 2( there was a company of the 8th squadron of which was quite clever: 'Soldiers did Vannes).'"' A party of 16 men were govc of the 4th division of gendarmerie for not cause the death of the most equitable assisting in collecting taxes near Caden Fraq provost or police duty. Harty's force was of kings, soldiers did not grow rich on (almost twenty-two miles east of on scattered to an unbelievable extent. The the property of the throne and of all Vannes). They were attacked by two E and3 944 men of the first battalion of the 52nd those who have been banished. Who hundred Chouans and eight soldiers thos! demi-brigade were stationed in twenty- then are the guilty one%? The inhabitants were reported missing.'?h' A flying repu five posts, the largest being held by 205 of towns ... The guilty ones are the column of thirty-four men of the 58th blot! men and the smallest by only eight. people who have never made war, who and five gendarmes, under Captain func When General Brune took over the live in peace, forcing the soldier to range Jouanny, left Malestroit (twenty-two royE command of the western army (as the over the countryside. Soldiers, our miles north-east of Vannes) and got armee d'Angleterre had become), he was friends and brothers, those vile embroiled with a large party of ~houans. repq appalled. 'You cannot imagine the state townspeople are your enemies and Joss, After a fight that lasted three quarters of disa~ of dispersion of the Western Arn~y'.)'~" ours."2wCadoudal would try to enrol an hour, the republicans had to retreat 'The stationing of troops . . . was republican prisoners and, if they refused the Malestroit."' On 29 September, Harty (JW Va nj absolutely ridiculous - ten thousand to join him, he would release them after was unpleasantly reminded that the gulf Arrd cantonments, so that an enterprising giving them some money and making of Morbihan lay within his province. A andt Chouan chief could have done as he them undertake not to serve against him sergeant and two privates of the 8lst wesl liked.Iz2'Brune summed the matter up for a year. That had 'a very bad effect on were killed by armed men disguised as joinl thus: 'He who would be everywhere is the other soldiers'.""' The men who did sailors at the ferry of Saint-Armel (five to S, nowhere,"'" a novel formulation of the not desert were not always to be relied -.S.E. of Vannes). The following the4 old dictum Wer nlles defendiren wrll on. Sometimes they had excuses. On 23 day a coG;ier from Vannes was attacked dt.fend~rtpr nichts. September, 1799, a corporal and six near Theix. A chasseur was wounded Harty's troops were secondgate ones, fusiliers were disarmed by one hundred and the infantry escort of eight men and the better type of un~twas used Chouans, yet Harty drily reported that, a corporal retreated to ~annes.Harty's elsewhere. Many men were conscripts as they 'had put up no resistance, they Religion played an important part in the revolt as the royalists fought to preserve the old order. where the ambush had taken place with of the 52nd, occupying Belle-Ile with part repulsed the Chouans, who fled, losing a party of gendarmes, cavalry and of the 82nd, should be brought back to three or four men whose bodies were infantry. Two other parties were sent to the mainland. 'For several years, they found in fields near the Auray road. Not the right and to the left of the road and have been sunk in boredom . . . and burn a man of the garrison was wounded, Colonel Bontk searched the whole area to measure their strength against the only an unfortunate exciseman at the with infantry and chasseurs until the enemy.' These troops would be replaced Rennes gate was 'horribly maltreated following day.(38) by the 81st, weakened by two with bayonets'.'44'A captain and two expeditions to Ireland and recently gendarmes effected a reconnaissance and brought up to a strength of 1,500 men came under the fire of a group of sixty The Ides of October with conscripts who needed training.'40' men who formed the advance guard of a On 15 October, 1799, the Chouans struck. The mini& not only approved this large band. Harty commented on the fact There had been a recent royalist uprising measure, but informed the new that the brigands fired very badly, as in south-west France. It had lasted from 4 commander of the armbe d'Angleterre, twenty shots were fired at the gendarmes to 20 August, but it did not shake the General Hkdouville, that he was sending at short range without hitting them. The government as the risings in western him three demi-brigades withdrawn Chouans that had attacked the Auray France did. Bourmont captured Le Mans from Holland, the 22nd, 51st and 72nd.(41' gate split up into several bands, watched on 15 October. Nantes fell to Chatillon Harty had already ordered part of the by parties of troops, as they were and Andignk on the 20th. Naturally 52nd in Lorient a d Quiberon to come to expected to return to the charge, but at those cities were quickly evacuated, but Vanne~,'~"and tX ree companies of the this point the three companies of the republican prestige had suffered a bad 82nd on Belle-Ile to Quiberon, that on 22 52nd from Lorient appeared and the blow and arms, ammunition, stores and October before any ministerial decision Chouans vanished. Harty feared lest they funds were seized by the victorious had been taken.'43)Isolated as he was in should attack small garrisons and he was royalists. Meanwhile, Harty was Morbihan, it was just as well that he was withdrawing them, except those along reporting that seven young men of the not afraid of acting on his own initiative. the coast, and concentrating them in the Josselin flying column had been main towns. The largest of these disarmed and gaoled for insubordination The Attack on Vannes garrisons was forty-nine men and the (Josselin is twenty-six miles north-east of smallest fo~rteen."~'Harty's report is very Vannes). One hundred young men at On 26 October, between 5 and 6 a.m., factual and he sounds unperturbed. Arradon and Baden (respectively three Vannes was attacked by Cadoudal's Patently Cadoudal had failed to catch the and three-quarters and eight miles south- Chouans whose strength is not known. defenders napping and when the drums west of Vannes) were said to be about to They were men of the Znd., or Auray, had beaten for action, he knew his join the Chouans, and Harty sent parties legion. They tried to enter the town bv enterprise was hopeless. Authors with to scour the countryside and prevent th; Rennes'and Auray 'barrfres' (where. +auk sympathies say that the attack them from doing so. No doubt alarmed dues on goods entering the town were on-annes was a feint. Is it because it by what was happening in Morbihan, paid). At the Auray gate, they hoped to failed? None of the other Chouan attacks General Michaud, tempwary C.-in-c. of use the method that had been successful or raids were feints. The fighting spirit the armke dtAngleterre, had suggested to at Nantes, that of charging in a body, but that Harty had instilled in his troops the Minister for War that two battalions the garrison was called to arms and seems to be the answer. In a recent book, Vendkan royalists.

M. Chiappe, a great admirer of everyone rushed to arms . . . These of the Vilaine. It is twenty-five and a half Cadoudal, wrote: 'The fight at Vannes republicans advanced against the enemy miles from Vannes and forty-three and a was a failure. Although Georges attacked and had soon put the brigands to flight, half from Nantes. General Grigny, the simultaneously by the Auray, Rennes several of whom were left dead on the commandant of Loire-Atlantiaue.I was a and Nantes roads, Major Surville's field. The Republic has only to regret, on hard-pressed man, and Harty had to infantry and Captain Michelet's this glorious day, the loss of one of its supply escorts for convoys from La gendarmes were not taken by surprise. friends, Citizen Lepelletier, who received Roche-Bernard to Nantes, and while his In the face of an opposition that only two bayonet thrusts and a sword cut. He men were marching eighty-seven miles cannon could have broken down, leaves a widow and a large number of to Nantes and back they were not Georges limited his attempt to an children who will have some rights to keeping down the Chouannerie in exchange of musketry and withdrew his national charity. Great tribute is to be Morbihan.""' Harty however had some men before retiring to Calla~.""~That paid to the zeal and generous devotion of small successes. On the night of 25-26 seems a proper appreciation of what the administrators, of all public October, he had sent Captain Amiot with happened at Vannes. One of the functionaries and to all the national 75 men from Auray and Major Penant consequences of this attack was that on 1 guards of Vannes. They were well with 70 from Vannes to Grand-Champ November, General Michaud had martial supported by General Harty . . .'"' (ten miles N.N.W. of Vannes). At law declared in Vannes. His letter to Plumergat (three and three quarter miles General Taponier sheds light on the state at E.S.E. of Grand-Champ). Amiot had of communications in Brittany. 'I have Morbihan War dispersed a band of Chouans, after an had no news from you for a long time. . . The same day, 26 October,4 at 4 a.m., three exchange of musketry that lasted for I am very surprised at you silence and hundred Chouans of the fourth legion, several hours, without losing a man. worried by it.'"7' under Colonel Louis de Sol de Grisolles, Penant had dispersed a gathering of The attack on Vannes was duly a former naval officer, captured La Chouans at Le Moustoir near Meucon reported in Le Monlteur and it is to be Roche-Bernard. A soldier and a civilian (five miles north of Vannes).'"' hoped that Harty's sense of humour did were killed, the town-major was At 2 a.m. on 27 October, Major not fail him when he read the following wounded. The garrison of 70 men were General Pierre Mercier, known as account: The town of Vannes . . has disarmed and received passports to Mercier-la-Vendbe, who commanded the again give splendid proofs of its return home as prisoners of the royal third, or Vannes, legion, and the devotion to the sacred cause of hberty army of Brittany. Only two returned to Chevalier de Saint-Regeant, colonel of On the 26th of last month, towards seven their unit (the 81st) and three were the 5th legion, with 700 men, captured o'clock in the morning, the Chouans, arrested at Muzillac. The Chouans seized Saint-Brieuc in Cotes-du-Nord. It was divided into two columns, attacked the public funds and the arms of the garrison unkindly rumoured that the republican town. The column coming by the Lor~ent and the flying column and plundered a general Casabianca slept through the road was about 1,000 strong, the one draper's shop. Harty considered that the whlcli was attackmg by the Rennes road garrison was to blame for being taken by was far more numerous The central surprise, as the town was captured in mount their cavalry. adininistrat~on and tht municipal five minutes.'"" The safety of La Roche- Harty was tireless. He went on administration . . . had the alarm Bernard was a particular headache for withdrawing small garrisons and sounded. The citizens of the town, the Harty. The town is in the south-eastern concentrating them in Vannes, Ploemel, gendarmes and the troops of the lliie, part of Morbihan, on the southern bank Auray and Hennebont and issued orders presence felt. He had taken fifteen have come over Harty, he remained information and had reconnoitred the prisoners, who were threatened and practical, stating that 'under the present enemy positions, he would have known struck as they were marched through the circumstances it would be very that Grand-Champ had always been the village. Cadoudal offered to enrol them. imprudent and dangerous to persist in headquarters of the insurgents, and that 'Their refusal . . . was however not having mounted orderlies carry he could not send only two hundred men general.' The men he freed had to despatches' as one would run the risk of there. But it seems he knew nothing'of undertake not to serve against him for a losing important letters', and here a note those things and even the movement6 of year 'under penalty of being hanged'. of grim humour crept into his report 'We the enemy; he had, however, all possibk Guillemot was resplendent with a white would in the long run mount a good means to achieve this end. The garri&A sash, white plumes in his hat and the cavalry for the brigands at the expense of of Vannes at that time numbered 1,200 ribbon of a grand cross of Saint Louis, our^'."^) Meanwhile, Sol de Grisolles had men, including 150 cavalry, chasseurs or which he was not entitled to wear. captured Redon, in Ille-et-Vilaine. The mounted gunners, and a volunteer Cadoudal was more modestly clad in a commandant, Captain Gely, had to company of light infantry; it could brown coat and was armed with a surrender. The arsenal was plundered therefore make frequent sorties and have double-barreled m~sket."~'On 7 and it contained a large quantity of perfect knowledge of the places of November, seven wounded men of the stores, including twenty-five 'milliers' refuge, positions and strength of the 77th arrived in Vannes and were sent to (twelve tons) of The town rebel^."^" With due respect to the hospital. A cartload of lead also arrived had been taken on 10 November, and disgruntled Le Gallic, Harty was from Pontivy, with an escort of fiftymen. General Gency, the commandant of Ille- constantly on the alert. Everybody knew The driver would have gone on to et-Vilaine, was only able to recapture it that Grand-Champ and most of the Nantes, but Harty gave him the choice of on the 14th. This fresh Chouan success territory north of the Loc (or Loc'h) and either going on by boat or waiting in would effect Harty, as Redon is close to Arz rivers were a Chouan preserve. Until Vannes till he could supply a proper the Morbihan border. The arms and he was reinforced by the 22nd demi- escort!57' That was another aspect of the powder seized by the Chouans would brigade in January, 1800, Harty simply war Harty was waging. He had not only sooner or later be used against Harty's could not undertake an operation of to fight Chouans, but prevent precious men, as Sol de Grisolles was active in some importance or send out more than supplies from falling into their hands. He south-eastern Morbihan. For the next few a limited number of patrols. When there also had to feed the garrison and the days there was patrol activity on the was trouble at Caden early in September inhabitants of Vannes. On 10 November, coast. On 23 and 24 November, patrols and a small party of sixteen men were Harty sent out a column of infantry and from Carnac (eight miles from Auray) attacked by two hundred Chouans, this cavalry to attack a gathering of Chouans exchanged shots with parties of is how General Schilt reported Harty's at Ploeren, only five miles west of Chouans. On the 24th, it was reported action to the Minister for War: 'General Vannes. The column drew a blank. As it that fifty sail could be seen from Sarzeau. Harty at once dispatched from Vannes a approached, shots had been fired, Such a report had to be investigated and column of 120 men under Major warning the Chouans of its approach. Harty had to send two columns to the Lamartinihre: it was impossible for him Turning south-east towards Arradon, the Rhuis peninsula, but they found nothing to form a larger one, considering how column found some Chouans who untoward happening. On the 26th, shots destitute of troops his subdivision is'.(62) escaped by boat. The only cheering news were exchanged between a republican Furthermore, Harty had no authority to was that a civilian accompanying two vessel and Chouans on the Ile-aux- give orders to the artillerie de marine. In chasseurs were stopped and disarmed by Moines. Again, Harty had to send out a his report of 30 November, he wrote: 'A some four hundred Chouans. On 11 patrol, only fifty men though, and all column of artillerie de marine that I had November, Harty sent Major Penant, they found on the island was a royalist ordered to remain in Auray, in obedience with 400 infantry and some cavalry with captain, dead-drunk.'M' to orders given by the general a light piece of cannon, to attack On 26 November, 1,017 men commanding the division, arrived in Chouans, who were loading grain at belonging to the 'artillerie de marine' Vannes on the 28th to continue its Muzillac. That operation was successf~~l (gunners serving as infantry with journey to Nante~."~~' from every point of view. On 15 nothing naval about them) with six guns, November, Major Penant was back, with thirteen caissons and a cart, on their way a convoy of sixty-eight carts laden with from Brest to Nantes, arrived in Vannes. The Action at grain and the belongings of some people The local administration being unable to Kerboulard seeking refuge in Vanne~.(~~)On 20 supply the necessary draught-horses, November, Harty was able to report that five hundred men were sent off in On 28 November, a small British a party of three hundred men, who had different directions on 27th. Two squadron under Captain Keats appeared left Vannes on the 16th to search the companies set off in the direction of offPenlan Head (one and a quarter miles towns of Plescop and Mkriadec (four Grand-Champ and were attacked by south of Billiers and two and three miles N.N.W. and seven miles north-west 2,000 Chouans within half a league of quarter miles from Muzillac) at the of Vannes), had returned on the 18th Vannes. They lost one man killed and mouth of the Vilaine. A large number of with thirty-five cartloads of firewood. It three wounded. Nine scouts were taken Chouans had gathered in the area: the would be overdoing it to say that prisoner, but later freed after they had better part of four Chouan legions. firewood was the sinews of war, but it been disarmed . . . and given money. Figures of 10,000 and 15,000 have been was as essential to the garrison of Vannes Such are the facts as given in Harty's put forward, but, were they halved, we as powder and shot. Harty had to think report on 27 November. There is a more might be nearer the truth, as otherwise of everything. The Chouans, too, knew detailed account of what happened by Le the Chouans would not have lost the how important such supplies were. Gallic de Kerizouet, a second lieutenant opportunity of trying to wipe Harty off Woodcutters, cutting down trees near of artillery. The two companies were the face of the earth, when he intervened Josselin, were threatened with death if under captains Raimbault and Husson; with only two thousand men. Signals they went on working for the they were guided by two gendarmes were exchanged, and early on the 29th republicans. Harty also had to report that who did not know the area. The enemy the ferrying ashore of arms, supplies and two orderlies, with despatches for was about three thousand strong (three %hep began. A French corvette, La General' Taponier, and a courier had been columns of between 800 and 1,000 men), Rkolaise, was a short distance away in the stopped. The despatches, and of course and the nine prisoners were cut off by mouth cf the Vilaine and her captain was their horses and weapon& were taken thirty or so horsemen, the embryo probably the first person to be informed from them. Although a feeling of Chouan cavalry. 'If General Harty, who of what was going on, when an helplessness and growing isolation must commanded in Vannes, had ;ought American, who was on board one of the the local people had fled and a fresh Chouan column was advancing on Elven from the south-east, so Harty resolved to return to Vannes. The fighting had lasted four and a half hours, four soldiers had been killed and eighteen or twe~ty wounded, two of them seriously. The Chouans had removed most of their dead and wounded and only a fe$ bodies had been left behind. The figure of two hundred Chouans killed seems to have been accepted at the time. Harty ended his report by paying tribute to all officers and men, admitting that 'although the object of my expedition has not been attained, it will always have a good effect in that the insurgents, who are persuaded that they have no Republican forces to fight, will be sure of the contrary'. He also suggested to General Taponier to withdraw further garrisons to strengthen flying columns, especially as small garrisons would now be unable to withstand the Chouans' artillery.(66' General Mercier, who commanded the Chouan rear-guard, gave his version of the fighting: We were attacked in our positions near Morbihan: the roads shown are those on Cassini's map (circa 1810). Elven; thefight lasted about two hours . . . A heath separated the combatants, the British ships, de~erted."~'On the evening men. Beyond the park, to the west and enemy artdlery was actively served. Our of 29 November, Harty was informed north-west, there are hamlets roughly men held their positions without being that 1,500 to 1,800 rebels had assembled parallel to the road and from two totwb intimidated by the whine of the cannon- at Muzillac and that a British squadron and a half miles from it. At Kerboulard, balls. We first charged the Republicans; had landed 4,000 muskets, three pieces of Chouans were seen on the heights of they charged us in their turn and were cannon and howitzers., vowderL and Kerlo, to the left of the road, and Harty repulsed. After giving the convoy time to money. Sixty carts had been laden and learnt that a Chouan column had passed escape, the retreat was ordered . . . The some were already making their way by Kerboulard a few hours earlier, and Republicans did not pursue us; they had inland. Harty wanted to reinforce his that another, escorting twenty-eight carts, their wounded removed and took the road meagre forces with 1,500 men of the had crossed the road near a windmill to Vannes. On retlring they caught sight artillerie de marine, but he was told that half a league from Elven (which would of George's column that was coming to they had been ordered to Nantes by the mean near Elven Park). Harty moved on join in the actzon, having been too far Minister of Marine. Their commanding to this latter point where five men armed away fo take part in it . . Our men were officer was willing to accompany Harty with new English muskets were found. quite proud of having resisted two to Muzillac as soon as he had sufficient Three fled and two were killed. Hamlets thousand five hundred soldiers and horses, as he could not divide his force, and farms were searched and freshly artillery, although they were only twelve but he would put his men at Harty's baked loaves were found. Following up hundred. i67' disposal if the British had landed. Harty the tracks left by the carts, Harty's scouts Of course the operation had been a resolved to march alone and leave the found the enemy and firing began. By comparative failure. Harty's object had artillerie de marine to hold Vannes in his then it was 11 a.m. Four or five thousand been to intercept and capture part at least absence. At 3 a.m. on 30 November, all Chouans, occupying part of Elven Park, of the convoy but he had done the next available troops were assembled and the the heights of Kermartin and several best thing, he had made his presence felt artillerie de marine commander suffered small villages, formed a semi-circle and delivered a hard blow that the a change of heart and agreed to let Harty round Harty's f6rce. Harty's skirmishers Chouans would remember. On 10 have the men he needed. Everyone was forced the-chouans to abandon their December, 1795, Major-General Lemoine issued with a day's rations and thirty positions, but the enemy advanced on had ridden out of Vannes with a party of rounds. At 6 a.m., Harty marched out of the right and on the left to encircle the hussars, as he had heard that several Vannes with 1,408 men of the artillerie de Republicans. Harty's guns played round thousand Chouans with one hundred marine, 560 infantry, 50 cavalry and two shot on them and dispersed them. As the carts were waiting for arms to be landed eight-pounders with light artillery gun enemy were still doggedly making for on the coast of the Rhuis peninsula. He crews.("" He determined to march to Elven Park, Harty's right captured it, was stopped on the way to Muzillac and Elven (ten and a quarter miles north-east while his centre charged the Chouans had to wait until he was reinforced by a of Vannes). We would swing to the left, who had taken cover in the fields of column of infantry, with which he should the rebels have crossed the road, Kerbiler. They retreated, also abandoning attacked a body of Chouans at La Trinite- or to the right, if they had not yet done the villages of Kerenderff and Surzur (nine miles south-east of Vannes). so. Again, shots were heard warning of Cousquerisse. Harty's left had charged at The Chouans held him up long enough the advance of Harty's column. At the same time and driven the enemv to enable the men and carts strung" along" Kerboulard (six and a half miles from from all their positions and they the? the coast to disappear. There are Vannes), the road to Elven and Ploermel pursued as far as Monterblanc (between Timilarities between that action and the runs north-east. On the left stretches two and a half and three and a half miles battle of Kerboulard. If one compared Elven Park. It is well woded, smallish, from the above-mentioned villages). By Harty with Lemoine, the former comes about one and a quarter by three then it was 4 p.m. Harty rallied his men. out better. He was less dashing and more l quarters of a mile, but it could offer a Ammunition was running low, there effective. General Taponier probably hiding-place for a certain number of were no means of obtaining food as all found the mot juste: the enemy had been beaten but not enough.(68!Some people (county and town councils) caused Harty commander of the first division and the were dissatisfied. The deputies of a lot of trouble. They complained of him 13th military division in Rennes, relieved Morbihan wrote to the Minister for War. to General Taponier and to the Minister Harty of his command. At the Archives " They had heard a garbled account of for War.(7z'Whenever Harty withdrew Nationales there is a register of corres. ' what had happened at Penlan, brigands small garrisons to larger towns, there pondence, which seems to have'gone had been, met at Kerboulard by two were protests from local authorities, who unnoticed and which gives a'short battalions of artillerie de marine. 'We are failed to realise that Harty was only summary of letters and orders And the being kept in ignorance of the reasons obeying orders. The Minister for War had following extracts are quite clear: .r: that prevented their being pursued'.'" advocated quartering troops only at main Letter No. 7, dated 13 Januarf;1800, The battle of Kerboulard never ought points along roads and, as the Chouans to General Houdetot. Orders to go and to have taken place. General Hedouville generally assembled in bands of from command in Morbihan, instructions, &c. had been communicating with royalist three to four hundred men, forming Letter No. 8, dated 13 January, 1800 to leaders through the agency of Madame flying columns of the same strength.'"' General Harty, to relinquish the Turpin de Crisse. At her chateau de la The behaviour of the central admin- command of Morbihan and take that of RochP, near Angrie (Maine-et-Loire), a istration was quite inconsequential. At a the arrondissement of Lorient. suspension of arms was agreed on. It was month's interval they could write to It is impossible to twist the meaning to last 'till 5 January, 1800. Even General Taponier complaining that small of those two letters; Harty had been Cadoudal accepted this suspension. garrisons were being abandoned, which superseded. That is further confirmed by: Some letters of Hedouville to Taponier enabled rebels to revictual at will, and to Letter No. 29, dated 17 January, 1800, and Harty relating to this suspension, the Minister for War that the forces of the to the Administration Centrale du were intercepted by Cadoudal's men. Republic should be less scattered.'"' Morbihan in answer to a letter from Cadoudal wrote to Harty: 'I have the When the 52nd was withdrawn from them, giving them fresh hope and honour of forwarding to you a parcel Belle-Ile, the central administration announcing the arrival of General intercepted by one of my parties near passed a resolution inviting and Houdetot, accordtng to their wish (my Ploermel. Had I had it two days earlier, requiring General Harty to use the troops italics).(79' the French blood that was shed at Elven from Belle-Ile for the defence of the Naturally the arrondtssement of might have been spared. I am awaiting a territory which had been committed to Lorient was a minor command, there letter from you before giving the chiefs of his care, and to withdraw from Lorient being three such sub-districts in my legions the order to suspend the troops not belonging to the national Morbihan. What probably happened was hostilities . . . ' Harty answered him with guard or artillery 'so as to oppose to the that a party of Chouans held up great dignity: rebels an important force proportioned to Labaroli6re's courier, the worst day's Sir, I have received your letter to-day as their mass'.(75!What was Harty to do? It work they ever did, and the glorious well as the despatches intercepted by one was unthinkable that he should reduce irony of it all is that the general who won of your parties near Ploermel. Just as you the garrison of Lorient. Whatever local the battle of Grand-Champ ought not to do, I regret not having been apprised two authorities might feel about their safety have been on the field at all. General days earlier of the suspension of arms in and the preservation of their houses and Labaroliere may not have been too proud the western dkpartements'. The French belongings, the defence of Lorient and of the part he played and wished to make blood that was shed the dny before Brest had priority over everything else. amends. There is a letter of his to General yesterday near Elven would doubtless In fact, on 1 December, General Clarke which cannot be explained have been spared. May it be the last in Hedouvile even ordered General otherwise. 'I hear you are interested in this intestine war, the whole weight of Taponier to withdraw from Morbihan Harty. Send him to me . . . I shall look which is borne by Frenchmen . . . I invite and from Cotes-du-Nord and send to after him'.(80'It might be proper to point you to give your subordinates the Brest two hundred grenadiers from the out here that after Grand-Champ, necessary orders promptly, as I shall 58th, 71st, 81st and 82nd demi- General Brune considered that Harty was send them mine so that the suspension of brigade^."^' The 81st and 82nd and the the only officer that might be promoted, hostilities may be religiously observed by first battalion of the 58th were in Harty's adding, which spoilt it somewhat, both sides.(7o! command and his already insufficient 'because of his long ~ervice'.'~" Religiously observed . . . a nice forces would thus be weakened. An expression under the pen of a republican extract from Harty's report on the battle general! of Kerboulard was published in the press Peace or War? As far as Harty was concerned, and it was accompanied by a letter from On 11 January, 1800, at Cande (Maine-et- nothing much had changed. The Hedouville to the Minister for War, a Loire), General H6douville signed a suspension of arms was ill-observed in reassuring letter about the exaggerated convention tending to a complete the Ploermel-Josselin area. Advanced reports conce(ning the Penlan landing, disarming and disbanding of the royalist posts were harassed by Chouans. Men and which ended with the words 'the legions. Among the other signatories travelling alone or in small parties were most difficult point is not to beat the were Bourmont, Autichnmp, Suzannet, disarmed; sometimes they even had their rebels but to find them'.(77'Citizen Andigne, Maccurtain de Kainlis, and clothes taken from them. There were Guillon, the government commissioner Chatillon . . . Finally there was a com- raids on towns in outlying parts of in Pontivy read that and wrote to the plete agreement. Neither Cadoudal nor Morbihan; houses belonging to minister, accusing Harty of being guilty his second-in-command, Mercier, had republicans were plundered in Mauron of not reporting the facts correctly to signed the convention and were not and Gourin. Chouans prevented people Hedouville. It was widely known that included in any suspension of hostilities, from taking their grain to public markets 60,000 muskets had been landed and which would therefore be resumed on 21 and requisitioned it for themselves, more were being landed every day, and January. To complicate matters, the First giving receipts 'in the king's name'.(71) A that Harty could not leave Vannes Consul considered that Hedouville had truce in Morbihan was still uncommonly without seeing rebels. He knew perfectly been too lenient. A proclamation to the like war. well there were rebels everywhere. inhabitants of the western de'partements Muzillac was occupied by them, as was-had been issued on 29 December ('An The Civilian La R~che-Bernard.'~~' iIiipious war threatens to set the western dipartements ablaze once more') following A Trick of Fate a decree of 28 December which offered a complete amnesty to all that surrendered The central administrations of Morbihan AS a result of complaints against Harty, their arms. The constitution would be and various municipal administrations Lieutenant-General Laboroli&re,the new suspended in all districts in open Types of nineteenth century Breton irregular forces. rebellion. A proclamation to the troops at Grand-Champ. Harty had been 60th demi-brigade, which only arrived signed by Bonaparte did not mince reinforced, however, by the 22nd demi- with him, and omitted the 81st (on Belle- matters: 'Good citizens have laid down brigade and it had taken an Ile) and the first battalion of the 58th.i85i their arms. There only remains brigands, unconscionable time to reach Vannes, Anyhow, when Harty left Vannes, he had imigrb and mercenaries of England' and, which it did at last on 10 January. It was 2,000 men of the 22nd demi-brigade (out on 14 January, a decree changed the on its way from Nantes when it was held of 2,377, four companies having name of the armee dqAngleterreto that of up at the Vilaine, in the La Roche- remained in Vannes), one grenadier western army, and the tough Jacobin, Bernard area, the Chouans having company of the 81st, viz. 44 men, 45 men Brune, was put at its head. On 16 astutely removed every boat they could of the 2nd chasseurs-8-cheval, 25 January, the constitution was suspended find and made them fast on the north gendarmes and an unspecified number in the four departements of the former bank of the river, and taking potshots at of gunners (probably twenty or so) with province of Brittany. On 20 January, any republican who appeared on the two pieces of cannon. He was joined at Brune took command of the army at south bank, HCdouville even contem- Grand-Champ by the first battalion of Angers, with Hedouville as his plated sending 1,200 men with two the 52nd demi-brigade (998 men), which lieutenant, and left for Morbihan on the pieces of cannon and a howitzer to help he had ordered from Auray. His force 24th.i82i the 22nd to force th&r way across the therefore amounted to 3,112 men, river.ix41Although it was not in any way a excluding gunners and unattached The Battle of crack unit, the 22nd would enable Harty officers. Those are Harty's figures and all to take the offensive with some chance of are far from the four to five thousand Grand-Champ, success. The second battalion, especially, men so generously allotted to him by 25 1800 had fought in Holland in General Julien Guillemot or the five to six January., Vandamme's division and had seen some thousand by Georges de Cad~udal.@~~ First one must remember that Harty was hard fighting at Bergen on 2 October, The battle of Grand Champ is a almost entirely cut off from the rest of the 1799. Later, it had contributed to drive strange little battle, as Harty fought it republican forces. Communications were the British from all their positions as far facing his base. The Chouans were generally intercepted, which explains as Egmond. It would not be particularly between him and Vannes, and Cadoudal why he dutifully waited until 22 January impressed by undisciplined Chouan obviously took this risk knowing how before taking the field. He obviously did legions. The 22nd demi-brigade brought few men were left in Vannes. Like many not receive a message from Hedouville Harty's stre~gthto about 7,000 men on minor battles, it has its obscure points instructing him to consider the truce the mainland. An undated note attached its name has not been settled yet. It broken by the rebels.'"' Had he received to a letter of Brune, dated 26 January, %hmown as Grand-Champ by the orders from General Brune, he would not gives 8,554 troops in Morbihan, republicans but the royalists called it the have marched out of Vannes the 22nd, including 250 chasseurs of the 2nd and battle of Pont du Loc. It is also known as but waited until the 27th when seven 21st regiments and 830 artillery, but the battle of Plaudren, strangely enough, columns were to close in on the Chouans Brune counted in the 1,600 men of the as Harty never was within three and a half miles of Plaudren. The only mention any outposts but, naturally mile west of Meucon).'"' These thirty-two contemporary and reliable account of enough, had sent out pickets to ensure men, two of whom were wounded, put what happened is Harty's report to that he would not be attacked without up a fine resistance. In true revolutionarv Brune, dated from Vannes, 29 January, due warning. According to royalist style, they elected Corporal Sterling a 1800.'8nThere are accounts by Jean Rohu, sources, he had occupied Camzon, on the their leader, though a sergeant W who commanded the 2nd Chouan legion, Loc and slightly over a mile east of Pont present. They swore to die on the spot and Julien Guillemot, who was only du Loc, and Talhouet. Unfortunately, necessary. They made loopholes in thirteen years old when he witnessed his Julien Guillemot, who gives this walls. They refused to surrender eve father's-attack from a safe distance. information, also states that Harty had save the life of thelr lieutenant, who Canon Le Falher, an authority on the quartered most of his force at Locmaria, later shot by the Chouans. The attac chouannerie in Morbihan, judged which is not c~rrect.'~')It was still dark attempted three times to set fire to Guillemot's account unscientific though and the weather was misty, which chateau . . . And here there is a slight he placed him far above Rohu whose enabled Guillemot to surprise the small inconsistency in Colonel F6ry7sreport. ~emoirsare rather suggestions than post of Kercadio, on the northern bank of He first stated that the fusillade lasted for anything elge.'88' the Loc and only a couple of hundred five hours. He then gave the impression So, on 22 January, Harty left Vannes yards from Camzon. Five men of the that the Chouans attempted to parley with his small force on what was company of the 22nd that was occupying with the 'Thirty-two', after which he intended to be no more than a foray in those posts were killed. While Guillemot wrote: 'The firmness with which these enemy territory. He was acting on out-of- was attacking Camzon with two soldiers defended themselves and the date instructions, a letter from the chief battalions, Gomez, with two other night which fell made the brigands of staff, which he had received on 20 battalions, took the republicans on their abandon the chateau.' Some Chouans January, ordering him to requisition the right flank. Julien Guillemot's account is may have remained round Guernic, but cattle and grain stored by the Chouans at very circumstantial: 'Gomez took post in Saint-Hilaire and most of his men Grand-Champ, and collect taxes. Harty two fields belonging to M. Berthois, a rejoined Cadoudal in the afternoon.(96' marched to Pont du Loc, where his justice of the peace in Vannes . . . '(92'The The 'Thirty-two' were in fact beseiged for advanced guard of cavalry came upon republican company was undoubtedly five hours, which was long enough, and eight deserters from the Auray volunteer wiped out, but nobody believes which brought the time to twelve noon; company and shot them. Having left the Guillemot when he stated that 47 and if their heroic behaviour was slightly first and second battalions of the 22nd to republicans were killed and 94 taken magnified later on, the reason is under- guard that important position, Harty prisoner. There were 42 or 43 prisoners.'93) standable. They were keeping 800 or made his way to Grand-Champ with the At this point, Harty intervened, more Chouans busy, while Cadoudal was third battalion and a piece of cannon. accompanied by his aide-de-camp, impatiently waiting for Saint-Hilaire to Soon after, the first battalion of the 52nd Lieutenant Jacques Semery, and join him before attacking Harty, so the entered the town and Harty posted it at Guillemot and Gomez, who are said by latter was able to deal at his leisure with the Chateau de Penhouet, almost a mile royalists sources to have carried all Messrs. Guillemot and Gomez. north of Grand-Champ, on the Loc. before them and to have beaten back the On hearing firing in the south, Harty Danger lay elsewhere, but especially republicans beyond the Vannes road, for sent off a few chasseurs to reconnoitre north of the Loc, where Guillemot's some reason simply withdrew beyond the strength of the enemy and four stronghold was. The Chouans had the Loc and sulked there for the rest of companies of the 52nd to assist the always had their hidden bases in the the battle. Julien Guillemot, who stands escort, not wishing to delay the execution forests of Camors, Saint-Bily and others up for his father, wrote that he was of his intended attack on Plaudren. Then in the area. All the inhabitants had fled angered at not having been supported in he saw enemy columns arriving from the with some of their cattle, but Harty was his attack. By then, it was 10 a.m.("' The east and deploying on the heights of the able to send a large convoy to Vannes on fighting had been bitter, however, and landes (heaths) of' Burgo and Parcarre. 23 January. The figure of ninety cartloads Harty had had a bullet through his hat. The centre of the enemv line was has been advanced.(89'Up to now, Harty's Semery had had his clothes riddled with opposite Locqueltas, the left extending mission had been quite successful. He bullets. The royalist colonel had also towards Grand-Champ and the right also reconnoitred the area and sent exposed himself and he had had bullets towards Monterblanc (over four miles rea scouts to find out the movements of the through his hat and coat. Semery had east of the main road). Harty was sh( generals who were to co-operate with been a sergeant-major in Lee's regiment cautious. While the enemy was not in full ne him. On 25 January, after ascertaining of the Foreign Brigade and there is here a strength, he was not to withdraw Gr that no other republican column from a pleasing conjunction of two brave men, the troops from Pont du Loc, where be1 neighbouring dkpartement had appeared the Irishman who was a general in the another attack might be expected, so he Sa in Morbihan, and assuming that the French army and the Frenchman who sent off successively the rest of the 52nd, wl Chouans had intercepted their had served in an 1dsh-or nominally Irish- the third battalion of the 22nd and a be instructions, Harty decided to act regiment. piece of cannon. As the enemy line was wl independently. Having heard that the Farther south, stirring things had extending and as the troops opposed to it RP enemy was assembling at Plaudren been happening. As the Chouans moved were suffering considerably from a Ca (about seven and a quarter miles east of westwards, the crack battalion of multitude of tirailleurs in a ravine and in Grand-Champ), where arms had been Edouard de la Haye Saint-Hilaire had ditches at the base of the heights and f a1 stored, he determined to march on the run into the convoy in the mist. It had behind hedges, Harty abandoned his an town.'90'Consequently, he sent off a not been difficult for eight hundred position at Pont du Loc and moved lal second small convoy of seventeen Chouans to capture the convoy, as the forward with his second gun and the first W cartloads of grain and cattle, escorted by escort only numbered one hundred and and second battalions of the 22nd. The ot the first company of the first battalion of ten men. Seventeen men, among them enemy was by then occupying 'an h f the 52nd. That must have been about 5 the elderly lieutenant in command of the immense area' and continued to deploy Pr a.m. Then Harty was about to begin his company, were killed or taken prisoner. towards Grand-Champ to take the P4 move on Plaudren when, at 7 a.m., there A quartermaster-treasurer of the 14th republicans in their right flank. Cadoudal dl was an attack by Chouans to the east of demi-brigade was among those killed. +d of course planned to encircle the Pont du Loc and, on his right, in the Sixty men managed to escape to Vannes; repulslicans. He was in the centre of the d direction of Meucon, Harty heard the a party of thirty-one men of the 52nd and line with Jean Rohu and the 2nd (Auray) sound of brisk firing: t@ convoy had one of the 22nd escaped through the legion. On his right there were two been attacked somewhere south of woods and barricaded themselves in the battalions of the 3rd (Vannes) legion Talhouet.. In his report, Harty did not Chateau de Guern or Guernic (about a under Jacques Audran and ~acques A contempora y version of the arrest of Cadoudal, March, 1804.

Duchemin. The third battalion, under Vannes was fraught with danger and had had arrived, most of his men had not, Gambert, was farther south, near taken steps not to be caught unawares and were already weary after a march of Meucon, to prevent reinforcements from and to have permanently the best over eighteen miles. Sol de Grisolles has reaching Hartyiq7'Saint-Hilaire's battalion striking force he could muster. And up to been very unfairly treated by Georges de should have been on the left of the line, this moment his action had been Cadoudal, who stated mistakenly that near the Burgo chapel, and Sol de vindicated. His outpost at Camzon had earlier in the day Sol had taken post Grisolles's fourth legion should have suffered the fate of many outposts, behind the 2nd legion and that he and been on the right, but we know where though Harty did not yet realize the fact, his officers refused to advance when Saint-Hilaire was and Sol de Grisolles, and Guillemot's Napoleon Bonaparte's writing W other occasions, proved as terrible once By then, it was 4 p.m. The fighting had hopeless. Harty's losses were sim more.' Harty had spent thirty years in the lasted about five and a half hours. Harty struck out and the only fi army of the old regime, practising the remained on the field of battle for an mentioned in the press were 4 o elaborate ballets that manoeuvres were hour and a half. Meanwhile, scouts of and 17 men killed and 50 then, but the changes brought in after Guillemot's first legion had crossed the wounded.(lloJA childish atte 1792 had npt been lost on him and he bridge over the Loc, preceding an enemy disguise the fact that Grand-Cha fully realized the formidable momentum column. There were twelve of them, but been a hard-fought battle. Harty's repo* of the shock tactics recommended by only four, who were on horseback, admitted the loss of 184 officersand men, Saint-J~st.~'~)It had been Carnot who first managed to escape. They were pursued killed, wounded or missing. recommended mass attacks on decisive and seen to join the column, which then There was some uncertainty as to the points, and the Committee of Public broke up and disappeared. That was the fate of the missing men of the 22nd. Safety had accepted his ideas. 'Attack, end of Guillemot's last feeble attempt to Harty thought that they might have lost attack unceasingly' became a tactical leit- take part in the fighting. Harty's men their way and taken the road to Ploermel motiv. Bernadotte, when Minister for were dead tired when they returned to or to Pontivy. General Brune reported War, had seen fit to give the following Vannes at 7 p.m. Harty estimated the that Cadoudal had had sixty-one men of instructions to the c-in-c of the Armee enemy losses at four hundred men. That the 22nd shot,(l1lJbut he was wrong. d1Angleterre:'In the event of a frontal figure is accepted by everyone. One Guillemot had lost sixteen men (eight attack, do not waste time skirmishing, B thousand muskets had been thrown shot on the bridge over the Loc and eight i charge the enemy with side-arms'.(lo5) away and were broken. when the republicans beat off his men4 Harty's charge was tactically sound and Again, royalists have their views as to advance guard towards the end of the repol it was successful. Furia Francese - with a what happened in the latter stages of the battle) and he had twice their number Du dash of Furia lrlandese - carried the day. battle. Here is the gist of what Sageret shot in reprisal.(l12)Georges de Cadoudal th! Royalist accounts are, of course, utterly has to say, often quoting the Chouans states that Guillemot had thirty-six men E! different.There are tales of unwillingness Alexis Le Louer and Rohu.(lo9'Harty's 'act shot in an attempt to do something d 4 to fight, of epic Chouan charges which of intelligent despair' (Harty's charge) irreparable and prevent Cadoudal from 1 n, seem to have led to nothing, and finally succeeded. His seventy chasseurs and suing for peace.(l13)Royalists claim that M of a practically beaten Harty leading his gendarmes charged through the royalist the republicans lost nine hundred men.'"" Gi break through in sheer desperation. It is lines. The Chouans scattered to fight the Harty praised the behaviour of all N generally admitted that the Vannes horsemen 'who galloped about while units and ranks at Grand-Champ. He ck legion was unwarlike. 'Alarge number of they were fired at from every side' (Le mentioned by name various officers.Sub- thl peasants, forcibly recruited, and almost Louer). Then the main body of Lieutenant Demailler of the 2nd demoralized beforehand, men of republicans forced their way like a chasseurs had been wounded, Colonel 3 Audran's, Jacques Duchemin's and de wedge through the Chouans and reached Bontk, Major Pineville and Major Guerin "'d Sol's, fled. . . throwing away and the heights. There they were greeted by had distinguished themselves and nQ breaking their weapons . . .'('O0 The men brisk, but ineffective, firing. Cadoudal's 'Citizen Semery, my aide-de-camp, when t h were the doubtful factor rather than their two guns fired ineffectively and were charging the enemy at the first attack, hi! officers,whom Julien Guillemot blames. soon withdrawn. The heaths of Meucon had his clothes riddled with bullets, one r 0 According to him, Cadoudal ordered and Parcarre became lists where remains incrusted in the scabbard of his Audran and Duchemin 'to advance and thousands of small fights took place. It sword.' Harty modestly forbore J attack the enemy's right (sic! Ofcourse it was then that the deserters of the 2nd mentioning the state ofhis own hat. to could only be Harty's left) with their chasseurs (the Chouan cavalry) fought All was not over for the fleeing battalions'. He was not obeyed. 'Those their former comrades. 'They knew one Chouans. General Gency, the com- f1ag two battalions . . . held their positions all another and one could hear them mandant of Ille-et-Vilaine, had been 04 day, without firing a shot.'i1n7'An attack challenging one another by name' ordered by Brune on 22 January to march Tire4 by Rohu's legion at Talhouet is said to (Rohu).'It is no doubt here that must be to Vannes. His column was 2,334 men reviq 4 have been successful. 'The three placed the collective duel, probably strong."15' On 25 January, the advance folloi battalions of Auray advanced on Pont du embellished by legend, between eighty guard of chasseurs and carabineers was Loc on either side of the road, in the face Royal grenadiers &d eighty ~e~ubkan nearing Elven when they caught sight of Eq of enemy opposition, they charged with grenadiers whom M. de Cadoudal alone armed men fleeing across the heath and Citia fixed bayonets and dispersed them and mentions.' 'Embellished by legend . . . at once engaged them. There were three detal the Royalists would have been victorious Sageret is absolutely right, in fact this or four hundred Chouans at Elven and Thirf had not General Gency brought duel is a legend. It sounds like an the chasseurs charged them. At least two, reinforcements from Locmine and attempt to evoke the heroic past of sixty Chouans were reported to have lost restored the battle for the republican^.'^^'^^^ Brittany, the fight of the Thirty, in which their lives and the republicans had not a This is sheer utter nonsense. General thirty Breton Knights, under Jean de single casualty. On 26 January, the whole Gency was miles away at the time. Beaumanoir, fought John Bramborough's column set out for Vannes and there was Undoubtedly, Rohu was an active thirty Knights in 1351. Le Louer asserts further fighting and another sixty or so adversary, and Harty had been worried that the republicans were fleeing in Chouans were killed, without loss to the by the firing kept up by Rohu's men, but disorderly fashion, like herds of cattle, republicans. All that has nothing to do such silly legends finally cloud with and that they were continually harassed +Hartyls victory at Grand-Champ, suspicion the bravery and determination to the gates of Vannes. Rohu asserts that but t6; point is that far too many of the Chouans who fought at Grand- only weariness prevented his men from historians have stated that Cadoudal Champ. There was one bapnet charge pursuing the republicans for long. . . fought Harty and Gency at Grand- that was successful and the republicans Here Harty's report was tampered Champ, and it must be made clear that drove that one through the royalist line. with. He had written: 'Several leaders no one reinforced Harty."lm Harty A revolutionary tribunal at work. mentions the fighting at Elven in his February, 1800, printed extracts from a government is apprised of it, and I am report: letter of General Brune announcing that pleased to have been instructed to convey De Sol's new recruits, in parties of Harty had beaten the Chouans at Grand- to you the expression of its corn- thirty, forty and fifty, were passing by Champ. Harty's bravery - and the state mendation. Elven, most of them expressing their of his hat - were given full publicity in Continue, Citizen General, to merit its distrust of their leaders and their an extract from a 'Letter from Vannes', of esteem, and you may count on the intention of not taking up arms again. 27 January: 'Major General Oliver Harty gratitude of the Nation, for having Many of these fngitives fell in with defeated the Chouans on the 25th instant contributed by your distinguished General Gency's column ... He killed between Grand-Champ, Pont du Loc and conduct to restore peace and quite in the fifty or SO.If only the gathering of Meucon. They had considerable forces, western 'dt!partements'.'""' Chouans that still remain are pursued to those under General Harty were greatly Citizen Semery also received a flattering the utmost, the mass of peasants will inferior in number. It was a particularly letter. He was commended for the cour- soon abandon their leaders and there will sham action. General Hartv had his hat age he had shown, which had only remain ... deserters and 'scd~rats' pierced by a bullet and was personally in contributed to the success of the battle of ... Georges must have said that he would great danger. His aide-de-camp had his Grand-Champ. no longer risk a general battle and that clothes riddled with bullets. The they would use other means, that general's example greatly contributed to highway warfare ('la guerre des grandes ensure the success of this important Was Grand Champ routes') would be more successful battle and the complete rout of the A against us. The rounds I made on the Chouans.'""' A decree of 6 February Really Victory? 26th and 27th in the country from here announced promotions and awards. The In his report of 29 January, 1800, to the to Elven and Questembert (about sixteen first to be mentioned were the Thirtv- First Consul, General Brune gave a very and three quarters miles from Vannes) to two. Corporal Sterling was promoted nuancke version of the battle: 'On 25 Jan- find grain and cattle enabled me to sub-lieutenant, Sergeant Marchand and uary, General Harty fought (a combattu) obtain this information ... ' two corporals, H6de and Bonnier, were the Chouans near Grand-Champ. His Tireless as usual, Harty was busy awarded muskets of honour."'" They, as forces were not adequate. Had he been revictualling Vannes on the day well as twenty-seven usiliers of the 52nd able to receive my instructions, he would following the battle of Grand-Champ. and one of the 22nd , were individually have awaited my arrival to end Harty's report ends with the account of mentioned in Brune's order of the day of everything at one blow, but my couriers the defence of the Chateau de Guernic. 18 February."'" Sub-Lieutenant Demailler were captured. It is a fine opportunity

Citizen Didier su~vliesA A some further was ~romotedlieutenant. The other lost. Georges had all his troops in battle details concerning the return of the officersmentioned in Harty's report were order . . . 'and Brune went on to express Thirty-two to Vannes. During the night, praised and promised promotion. In Le his fear that Cadoudal who had 'greatly two men of the besieged garrison, Moniteur of 20 February, Citizen Harty, suffered' would fall back on 'hedge disguised as peasants, arrived in Vannes major-general employed in the western warfare' as the self-confidence of his to ask for help. As eight hundred men army, was also given his due by the troops had suffered and would no longer were setting but to relieve them, the Minister for War, General Alexandre enable him to risk pitched battles.""' others turned up carrying their two Berthier: However, in a report to the Minister for wounded comrades. The battle of Grand-Champ, Citmn War, written the same day, Brune wrote: General, will be mentioned among those 'General Harty defeated (a bnttu) the where Republican valour, led by a Chouans at Grand-Champ on the 25th Gathering Laurels capable commander, triumphed +eneral Gency did them much harm Grand-Champ was hailed as a victory. Its gloriously over a numerically superior at Elv& . . .'""' It is difficult to know propaganda value was immense. It was enemy. The success of this expedition is whether the use of the word coinhnttre the greatest battle in thehest since due to the dispositions you took , and instead of battre in the first letter was a Quiberon, and the republican authorities you gave on this occasion the example of slip or was intentional."'" It is obvious, made capital out of it. Le Moniteur of 4 your devotion to your country. The though, that no blame lies attached to Harty who, with his paltry forces, had was posted to Morlaix (Finisthe) in March, 1799. 19 November, 1799, (SHAT, B5-61). inflicted a definite setback on Cadoudal. From a description on a passport dated 26 June, 31. Harty's report of 25 September, 1799, (SHAT, B5. Possibly the proper view is General 1795, in Harty's Dossier. 59). 0.Harty, Renseignements exige's . . . p. 4. 32. Harty's report of 31 October, 1799, (SHAT, B5- Bonaparte's: 'The battle of Grand-Champ General Clarke was not only a distant relative of 60). was not decisive enough.'(I2"It could not Harty's, but had himself served in Berwick's 33. Declaye to Harty, Vannes, 30 November, 1799, have been otherwise. The odds against Regiment. After a fall from favour, he was (SHAT, 85-62), Harty were too great, and a total defeat reinstated as director of the D6pBt de la Guerre 34. Harty to Schilt, 20 August and Schilt to ~inistpt at the end of 1799. for war, 26 ~u~ustand3 September, 176, could not be inflicted on Chouans, who Or Browaroch, the land of Erec or Waroc, count (SHAT, B5-58). would melt into the landscape and of Vannes, who flourished at the end of the sixth Schilt to Minister for War, 20 August, 179% mingle with the country people if things century. (SHAT, B5-57), also copy of his report of 6 went against them. Today, a historian, Chouan has a very obscure origin, but the word September, filed under 11 September (B5-58). worthy of the name, who had to give a seems to derive from the hoot of the owl which Schilt to Minister for War, 5 September, 1799, the Cottereau brothers are said to have used as a (SHAT, B5-58). short and definite answer to the signal. It is synonymous with royalist guerrilla Harty's report of 27 September, 1799, (SHAT, B5. 'Was Grand-Champ a defeat or a and shorter, so I shall use it. 59) victory?' would not hesitate. Professor Harty's report of 31 October, 1799, (SHAT 85-60), Harty's report of 1 October, 1799, (SHAT, 85-59) Jean Tulard, the director of the Institut Administration centrale du Morbihan to Harty's report of 19 October, 1799, (SHAT, B5- Napoleon, when summing up the Minister for War, Vannes, 7 December, 1799, 60). (SHAT, 86-62), General Michaud to Minister for War, Rennes, 17 situation, wrote: '~adouda1,-beatenat Harty's report of 23 October, 1799, (SHAT, B5- October, 1799, (SHAT, B5-60) Plaudren by General Harty, sued for 60). Minister for War to Michaud, 27 October, 1799, peace in Febr~ary."'~~)No further Harty to General H&douville,3 December, 1799, (SHAT, B5-60), and the same to General comment seems necessary. Cadoudal (SHAT, B5-62). ' Hedouville, 4 November, 1799, (SHAT, B5-61). knew he had been beaten.('26)The Breton Harty to General Schilt, 20 August, 1799, copy Possibly it was a good thing to withdraw the filed under 22 Sept., 1799, (SHAT. B5-59). 52nd from Lorient. Relations between the towns- royalists had had enough, awalc'h! and, Harty's report of l October, 1799, (SHAT, B5-59). people and the military were strained. The town after Grand-Champ, the balance in General Hedouville to the First Consul, Angers, council had lodged a complaint against men of manpower favoured the republicans. On 2 January, 1800, (Archives Nationales, AF iv the 52nd, who had celebrated the 10th of August 4 February, Cadoudal met General Brune 1590,2, f. 29 r.). (the anniversary of the talking of the Tuileries near Theix and, on 14 February, peace Harty's reports of 12 November, 1799, (SHAT, and the end of the reign of Louis XVI) rather too 85-61), and 30 November (B5-62). boisterously. Seditious cries had been uttered was signed at the Chateau de Beauregard Nielly, town major of Lorient, to Central and the commandant, Captain Walsh, who had near Vannes. There were mental Administration of Morbihan, 28 August, 1799, authorised the celebration, had had to exchange reservations on Cadoudal's part, of (SHAT, B5-58). posts with Coquille, the commandant of La Hou- course. Only broken or useless muskets Orders of 30 October (SHAT, 85-60), and of 13 gue. Schilt to Minister for War, 20 August, 1799, July (85-57). (SHAT, B5-57), and Orders of the 13th military were handed over to the republicans and Harty's report of 23 October, 1799. division filed under 27 August (SHAT, B5-57). most of the Chouans' weapons were Return ('Situation') of 22 October, 1799, (SHAT. Harty's report of 23 October, 1799, (SHAT, B5- hidden away, but Brune had been right B5-60) 60). about 'hedge warfare' (or 'highway General Brune to the First Consul, Nantes, 22 Another report states that three Chouans were warfare', as Harty expressed it). The January, 1800, (AF iv l,f, 13v.) taken prisoner. Correspondence ge'ne'rale, 14 From the same to the same, of even date (AF iv November, 1799, (SHAT, B13-122). Catholic and Royal army was an army 1590, 1, f. 42r) 10,000 is of course a generous Harty's report of 26 October is not to be found in only in name and could never rise again overstatement. An extreme case is that of B5-60, but the essential part was published by above guerrilla warfare. The indomitable Colonel Ferey, commanding the 24th light demi- Ch. L. Chassin, Les pacifications de I'Ouest, 1794- Chouan leader shortly afterwards brigade. When asked for a return of the men in 1801 (Paris, 1897-1899), volume iii, pp 402-2. returned to England and plotted against his unit, he replied that he did not know where Jean-Franqois Chiappe, Georges Cadoudal ou la they were. It is true that the 24th had only just Liberti (Paris, 1971), p.235. Georges is of course the First Consul, whom he intended to been transferred to the 13th militarv division Cadoudal. He known as Georges, like a king, kidnap or murder. On the night of 23-24 (Ferey to Minister for War, Rennes,'7 August, and he signed 'Georges' like a king. The third August, 1803, he landed in Normandy 1799 [SHAT. B5-571). attack mentioned by M. Chiappe is not proved. and went into hiding in Paris. It was Brune to the First Consul, Vannes, 29 January, Callac is thirteen and a half miles north-east of 1800, (AF iv 1590,1,f, 26 v). Vannes, near Tredion, another of Cadoudal's sheer lunacy. The man who had reigned Jean-Paul Bertaud, La Rivolution armLe (Paris, haunts. supreme over the Morbihan heaths was 1979), p.286. Insubordination was a defect which Michaud to Taponiet, Rennes, 1 November, 1799, literally trapped in Paris, with Fouchk's even affected general officers. In January, 1800, (SHAT, 85-61). police on the look-out for him. He was Lieutenant-General Favereau, charged with the Le Moniteur of 21 November, 1799, p.234). captured on 9 March, 1804, and defence of the coasts of Morbihan, and Major Harty's report of 28 October, 1799, also Taponier General Grigny, Harty's opposite number in to Michaud of even date and Bulletin Historique guillotined on 25 June, 1804. A melan- Loire-Atlantique,were put under arrest by order (from 23 October to 21 November) (SHAT, B5-60) choly end for an undoubtedly great man, of the Consuls for disobeying the general-in- Harty's report of 1 October, 1799, (SHAT, 85-59). who had resorted to conspiracy because chief (General Berthier's orders, 14 January, 1800, Harty's report of 28 October, 1799, (SHAT, B5- an elderly Irish gentleman had out- [SHAT, 05-59]), 60). generalled him on the field of Grand- Minister for War 6 general commanding the Harty's report of 31 October, 1799, and Bulletin 13th military division, 5 OctoberJ799 (SHAT, B5- Historique (SHAT, B5-60). Champ. 59). Such a procedure rendered absolutely Harty's reports of 2 and 12 November, 1799, useless and even dangerous the weapons of the (SHAT, B5-61) REFERENCES third rank. Lieutenant Michaud of the 2nd Chasseurs to 1. Service Historique de 1'Armee de Terre (SHAT). Bmne to the First Consul, Vannes. 1 February, Harty, Locmine, misdated and filed under 30 Dossier Harty de Pierrebourg, GOneraux 1800 (AF iv 1590,l.f. 29 r). September, 1799, (SHAT, B5-59), also Bulletin division, No. 893,2&meserie. Harty only applied General Michaud to General Taponier, Rennes, Historique, B5-60 and Minister for War to the for French nationality in 1816, when he was 18 November, 1799, (SHAT, B5-61). Consuls, Paris, 17 November, 1799, (B5-61). seventy. For information concerning his behav- Harty's report of 16 December, 1799, (SHAT, 85- Harty's report of 7 November, 1799, (SHAT, B5- iour at Landau, Wissembourg and in Santo 63). Desertion also affected the royalist legions. 61). ,Domingo, see Oliver Harty, 'Aux citoyens In fact, the desertions from the Chouan legions Municipal administration of Pontivy to Taponier, reprisentants . . . ' and 'Renseignements exige's par offset the desertions from the republican demi- 8 November, 1799, (SHAT, 85-61) I'arreti du Comite' de Salut Public . . .,' Bibliotheque brigades. See Le Moniteur of 23 December, 1799., Harty's report of 9 November (SHAT, B5-61). On Nationale, 4 Lk12 1171 (1) and (2). See also p.364. 23 November a coasting lugger with six tons of present author's 'Defeat at les Platons' in Ir.. Chouan leaflet entitled 'The brigands to the lead on board was seized by Chouans. The Sword, xiii, pp. 103-4. soldiers of the line', filed under November, 1799, skipper was no doubt a confederate. That seems 2. See Harty's report of 23 January, 1797, in (SHAT. 85-61), to have been the ultimate fate of the load of lead. Marquis de Grouchy, Le Ge'niral de Grouchy et Central Administration of Morbihan to General 'Harty's report of 12 and 15 November, 1799, l'lrlande en 1796 (Paris, 1866). pp, 172-183. It is Hkdouvdle, 27 November, 1799,copy filed under (SHAT, 85-61), pretty damning for Bouvet, Harty applying to 7 December, 1799, (SHAT, 85-62),There is at least Harty's report of 20 November, 1799, (SHAT, B5- him words like, 'fuyard' (runirway) and 'lache' one case of republicans being offered 200 francs 61). The woodcutters are mentioned in his report (coward). (over £8) to join the royalists and a pay of one of 16 December, 1799, (SHAT, 85-63), 3. Another Irish major-general, Richard O'Shea, franc a day. General Gringy to General Berthier, Harty's report of 27 November, 1799, (SHAT, B5-62). Le Gallic de Kerizouet, Riflextons sur une Extran du journal d'ordre [sic] et de correspondance into the convoy by accident. Fery also states that campagne par terre contre les insurgD vulgamment comnrend le 22 niudse (12 January, 1800) jour du enemy cavalry pursued his men and forced them dits Chouans in Chassm, iii, pp.468-470. dipart de Rennes du Gintral Lespinasse (AF IV to separate into two groups. He places the attack +hilt to Minister for War, 5 Se~tember,1799, 1590,3 (ii) ff 12 v, 13 r). General Hedouville had of the convoy 'a league and a half from the (SHAT, B5-58). appointed Lieutenant-General Lespinasse to column (i.e. the main body of troops at Pont du Harty's report of 30 November, 1799, (SHAT, B5- command the first division in Rennes and be his Loc) or about a mile north of Meucon, near a 62). ?he akval of this column brought the total deputy, communications between Angers and village called Le Guerneve, whereas royalist strength of the artillerie de marine to 1,800 men. Rennes and Morbihan being uncertain. General authors, such as Guillemot, place the attack at qr Declaration by Michael Wilson, 29 November, Lespinasse, having just been elected senator, near Talhoust (Guillemot, p.164). Royalist 1799, (SHAT, B5-62). orders subsequent to his departure could only authors confuse the Chateau de Guernic and he Le Gallic de Kerizouet gives the following emanate from General Labaroliere. Chateau du Reste, over two miles west ob, figures: 1,500 artillerie de marine, 150 men of the Laboroliere to Clarke, Rennes, 31 January, 1800, Meucon, that makes the latter place a mdk' 52nd demi-brigade, 150 of the 81st, 50 chasseurs- (AF IV 1590,3(ii),f.25 rand v). unlikely one for fugitives to make for .'. . g-cheval and 30 mounted gunners (Chassin, iii, Bmne to the First Consul, Vannes, 14 Febmary, especially if they were pursued by Chouan p. 469). 1800, (AF IV 1590, o,f. 41 v.). When Brune cavalry. Harty's report of 30 November, 1799, (SHAT, B5- divided his forces into two army corps, under Guillemot. p.165. 62). On 3 December, Harty stated that two General Hedouville and General Debelle Sageret, p.561; Guillemot, p.162. hundred Chouans had been wounded, but that (Hoche's brother-in-law), Harty was put in Sageret, p.555. the number of their dead was still a secret. Harty charge of the reserve in Vannes. This reserve Sageret, p.552. to Hedouville, 3 December, 1799, (SHAT, B5-61). consisted of the 6th light demi-brigade (three Part of Gomez's men seem to have joined the Cited by Georges de Cadoudal. Georges battalions with a strength of 2,320 men), the right wing, though it is not known how many Cadoudal et la chouannerie (Paris. 1887), pp.202-3. 22nd (2,168 men) and the 60th (1,850 men), or a The explanation has been put forward that Saint- The number of Chouans engaged is open to total of 6,338 men, a suitable command for a Hilaire could not speak Breton and that most of doubt. At the time,.figures as low as four or five major general (AF N 1590,5. f. 6. v). Previously his men could not understand French, so that he hundred were mentioned, though it was also there had been a temporary reshuffle which had could not rally them and rejoin the main force estimated that 150 Chouans had been killed and not been so favourable to Harty. He only (Sageret, p. 553; Guillemot, p.165). 600 wounded. All these figures were given n the commanded the 52nd demi-brigade and all Cadoudal, p.227. Erlannig. Le giniral Louis de Sol same issue of Le Moniteur, 14 December, 1799, detached or isolated troops. General Debelle's de Grisolles, Saint-Brieuc, 1966, has vindicated the No. 83, pp 328-9. The strangest account of all is correspondence, 30 January, 1800, (SHAT, BY- Chouan colonel. that by Le Gallic de Kerizouet. There were 5,000 87). General Bernadotte, Brune's successor, Didier's report, f. 29v. Harty also estimated the Chouans, their line extending from a village to a considered that Labarolih-e, owing to his great enemy strength at 8,000 men. wood. Harty sent forward about 300 men, and age (he was only four days older than Harty!), Here is Saint-Just's formula which has often been later a battalion (as he had divided his 'little was only fit to command a town in the interior misquoted: 'Le systime de guerre doit &re l'ordre army' into three battalions), keeping the other or inspect depots. Bernadotte to the First Consul, du choc des armies fran~aises'.Reimpression de two and the second gun in reserve. The first gun 26 July, 1800, (AF IV 1590,4 (i), f . .28). l'ancien Moniteur, 1841, xviii, p.119. fired five times in three quarters of an hour. 'In Since 28 December, 1799, Le Moniteur had been Chasin, iii, p.351. short we spent half-an-hour there pretending to the sole official gazette and all the proclamations Sageret, p.568. want to fight and attack the enemy but the and decrees mentioned are to be found in No. 99 Guillemot, p.165, See also Cadoudal, p.227. whole action was fought out between the (30 December), p. 391, No. 109 (9 January), p. Cadoudal, pp.226-7. See also Sageret, pp.561-2. skirmishers of either side. After which the 431, No. 116 (16 January), p. 461, No. 118 (18 Sageret, pp.566-568. general returned to Vannes . . .' (Chassin, iii January), p. 468, and No. 122 (22 January, 1800) Colonel Bonte's report in Le Moniteur. pp.469-470). p.482. Bmne to the First Consul, 1 February, 1800, (AF iv General Lespinasse, commanding the first Hedouville to Minister for War, Angers, 13 1590,1, f 29r). division to General H6douville, Rennes, 6 January, 1800, (SHAT, 85-64), Guillemot, p.166. December, 1799, (SHAT, 85-62), Hedouville to Clarke, Angers, 8 January, 1800, Cadoudal, pp.228-9. Deputies of Morbihan to Minister for War, 10 and 12 January (AF N 1590.1. f. 30r and 33 rand Sageret, p.570. Sageret even mentions Le Louh's December, 1799, (SHAT, B5-62). V). estimate of 1,100 Republicans killed. Harty to H&douville,with copies of both letters, Brune to the First Consul, Redon, 26 January, Reported by General Gency's chief of staff. 3 December, 1799, (SHAT, B5-62). Everything 1800, (AF IV 1590, 1, f.25~).A report by Citizen Conscience in Le Moniteur of 4 February, 1800. leads one to think that Cadoudal had, in fact, Didier, an aide-de-camp of Bonaparte, dated 3 No. 135, p.538. Gency's column was composed of news of the suspension of arms before the battle February, 1800, gives 8,091 infantry and 192 the carabineers of he 29th light demi-brigade, a of Kerboulard, but withheld the fact so that all cavalry (AF N 1590. 3 (ii) f. 30r.). grenadier company of the 52nd, two grenadier the arms landed at Penlan should be safely Julien Guillemot, Lettre d mes neveux sur fa companies of the 82nd, eight fusilier companies stored away first. chouannerie (Nantes, 1859).p.161. and Georges de of the 52nd, a detachment of sixty men of the Harty's report of 16 December, 1799, (SHAT, B5- Cadoudal. p.223. 2nd Chassedrs and two sections of the 5th 63). AF IV 1590,3 (ii) ff 141 - 161. An edited version of regiment of light artillery with an eight-pounder Chassin stresses this attitude of civilian his report was printed in Le Moniteur of 7 and a howitzer. On the way it was joined by two authorities: 'Civilian authorities were for ever February, 1800, No. 138. p.547. A summary of companies of carabineers of the 13th light demi- sending off to Paris vehement complaints operations by Colonel Bontk of the 81st demi- brigade and twenty-five chasseurs. against generals. They accused them of being brigade and an extract from a report by Colonel Count de Martel in 'Les historiens fantaisistes . . ., inactive, failing to realize they were powerless to Fery of the 52nd had already been published on 2nd part: La pacification de L'Ouest (Paris. 1885). do anything' (Chassin, iii, p. 432). the 4th (110.135, p.538). pp.145-6, severely criticized Adolphe Thiers for Minister for War to General Michaud, 14 August, Jules Le Falher, Memoires de J. Guillemot sur la making Gency take part in the battle of Grand- 1799, (SHAT, B5-57). Chouannerie, in Revue Morbihannaise (Vannes, Champ (in his History of the consulate and empire , Administration Centrale to Taponier, 2 1910).pp.lO.11. i, p.205). Count de Martel was also the first to November, 1799, (SHAT, B5-61), and the same to Citizen Didier's dport. f. 29. v. The figure may be publish Harty's report (complete but for three Minister for War, 7 December, 1799, (SHAT, B5- correct, but Didier is wrong in stating that this and a half paragraphs). pp.129-137. 62). convoy was attacked by the Chouans. Le Moniteur. No. 135. p.538. Extrait des Registres . . ., 30 October, 1799, (SHAT, Harty's information was reasonably good. Le Moniteur, 7 Febmary, 1800, No. 138, p.547. B5-62). The letter Harty received had been toned Cadoudal, who had only 1,200 men with him SHAT, B5-65. A list had already been published down a little, the verb 'to require' had been when Harty left Vannes, had retired to Plaudren. in Le Moniteur of 4 February p.538. omitted. Administration Centrale to Harty, 30 His headquarters were at the Chateau de Le Moniteur, 20 February, 1800, No. 151, p.603. October, 1799, (SHAT, B5-60). Beauchene, near Tredion, 3314 miles from AF iv 1590,1, f. 26 v. Hedouville to Minister for War, 1 December, Plaudren. The rallying point of his legions is SHAT, 85-64, 1799, (SHAT, B-5-62). About 20,000 men of the doubtful, somewhere between Plaudren and When an extract of the letter to the First Consul Armee d'Angleterre were employed on garrison Monterblanc. See Emile Sageret, Le Morbihan et was printed in Le Moniteur of 4 February, 1800, duty and coastal defence out of a total of under la Chouannerie morbihannaise sous le Corlsulat No. 135, p.538, the opening sentence was: 'Le 45,000, but on 3 December, Hedouville reminded (Paris 1911), pp.549-550. general Harty a bath les Chouans . . .' all his lieutenant generals that 'watching over the Guillemot, p.161. Letter to Brune, Paris 8 February 1800 coasts will always be one of the principal objects Guillemot, pp:162-3. (Correspondancede Napolion, vi, p.152, Letter No. of your care and the forts that defend them must Sageret, p.558. His authorities are Rohu and 4575). always be garrisoned by the number of men Alexis Le Louw. Jean Tulard, La Paix Inthieure in Napolton et necessary for their defence' (SHAT, B5-62). Guilemot. pp.1634. ['Empire, ed. by Jean Mistler (Paris, 1968),i, p.111. Le Monifenr, 19 December, 1799, No 88, p.347. In G. de Cadoudal states the Chouan battalion was * -,'The battle was lost for Cadoudal. He had not this report Harty's force was brought down to 1,200 strong (p.225). Colonel Fery states that it obtained the result he sought' (Georges de 900 men. was 1,500 strong, so does Didier. Colonel Fery Cadoudal, p.228). Government commissiber at Pontivy to also states that the convoy was ambushed by Minister for War, 28 December, 1799, (SHAT, B5- Chouans hiding on either side of the road. It (Reprinted from The Irish Sword, Vol. X1K Mnter 2981, 63). seems more likely that Saint-Hilaire's men ran No. 57)