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Then on we went once more, still very slowly, still stopping again and again, sometimes for an hour at a stretch, until, half numbed by the cold, weary of stamping our feet, and still ravenous, we reached the little town of Sille-le-Guillaume, which is not more than eight or nine miles from Conlie.
But he was sorely perturbed by all the conflicting news respecting the military operations in the provinces, the reported victories which turned out to be defeats, the adverse rumours concerning the condition of the French forces, the alleged scandal of the Camp of Conlie, where the more recent Breton levies were said to be dying off like rotten sheep, and many other matters besides.
The whole question having given rise to a good deal of controversy among writers on the Franco-German War some of them regarding Conlie as a flagrant proof of Gambetta's mismanagement of military affairs I will here set down what I believe to be strictly the truth respecting it.
It so happened that a large body of men was assembled at Conlie, sixteen or seventeen miles away. They formed what was called the "Army of Brittany," and were commanded by Count Emile de Keratry, the son of a distinguished politician and literary man who escaped the guillotine during the Reign of Terror.
Fortunately, Freycinet was able to send Jaures reinforcements which brought his effective to about 35,000 men, and at the same time Gambetta urged Keratry to prepare a marching division of the men at Conlie. I caught a glimpse of him, muffled in his fur coat, and looking, as well he might, intensely cold.
The German Advance Westward Gambetta at Le Mans The "Army of Brittany" and Count de Keratry The Camp of Conlie The Breton Marching Division Keratry resigns The Champigny Sortie from Paris The dilatory D'Aurelle The pitiable 20th Army Corps Battles of Beaune-la-Rolande and Loigny Loss of Orleans D'Aurelle superseded by Chanzy Chanzy's Slow Retreat The 21st Corps summoned to the Front I march with the Breton Division Marchenoir and Freteval Our Retreat Our Rearguard Action at Droue Behaviour of the Inhabitants We fight our Way from Fontenelle to Saint Agil Guns and Quagmires Our Return to Le Mans I proceed to Bennes and Saint Malo.
On January 14 the 21st Corps under Jaures reached Sille-le-Guillaume, and was there attacked by the advanced guard of the 13th German Corps under the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg. The French offered a good resistance, however, and the Germans retreated on Conlie.
It was arranged between them that Keratry should gather together all the available men who were left in Brittany, and train and organize them, for which purposes a camp was established at Conlie, north-west of Le Mans. Conlie was the first place which I decided to visit on quitting Saint Servan. The most appalling rumours were current throughout Brittany respecting the new camp.
After these troops had taken up position at Yvre, in order to prevent the enemy from crossing the Huisne, various conferences were held between Gambetta, Jaures, and Keratry. General Le Bouedec had been left in command at Conlie, and General Trinite had been selected to command the marching division of the Bretons.
Chanzy, as previously mentioned, modified his plans, in accordance with Gambetta's views, on the evening of January 12. The new orders were that the 16th Army Corps should retreat on Laval by way of Chassille and Saint Jean-sur-Erve, that the 17th, after passing Conlie, should come down to Sainte Suzanne, and that the 21st should proceed from Conlie to Sille-le-Guillaume.
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