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Updated: May 12, 2025
It was true that he could not have again put his ten thousand men in marching order, and have returned with his whole force the next day from Bressuire as far as Clisson, but Westerman himself did not go back beyond Amaillou, and he detained there with him a small detachment of mounted men, whom he had commanded at Valmy, and whom he well knew.
"Craucher," said Westerman, speaking to the second sergeant, who was riding immediately behind him, "stand at the corner, and bid the men follow me at a quick trot all of them, mind; tell Cornet Leroy that I have changed my mind," and Westerman, followed by his troop, dashed up the narrow avenue which led through the wood to the back of the house.
This feat having been accomplished, Westerman continued on towards Bressuire, intending to burn the chateau at Clisson, as he passed it on his way. The district between Amaillou and Bressuire is thickly studded with trees. The roads, or rather lanes, are all lined by avenues of limes and beeches.
It was believed that both de Lescure and Larochejaquelin were there, and Santerre expected that by hurrying across the country with a small force, he would be able to take them both and burn the chateau, and afterwards rejoin Westerman at Chatillon. Barrere, whose duties were not strictly those of a soldier, had not accompanied the army beyond Saumur.
"Perhaps so," said Bourbotte; "my men have not yet been taught to massacre unarmed crowds." "It is difficult to know what they have been taught," said Westerman. "Whenever they have encountered a few peasants with clubs in their hands, your doughty heroes have invariably ran away." Westerman as he spoke, stood leaning on the back of a chair, and Bourbotte also rose as he answered him.
These woods came close up to the farm-yard of the chateau, which was again divided from the house by large walled gardens, into which the back windows opened. The road up which Westerman had ridden led under the garden-wall to the farm-yard, but another road from the front, running along the gable-end of the house, communicated with it.
At length an old German refugee, a beggar, but a soldier, was fixed on; and Westerman is to take the command. By one o'clock the tocsin is to be rung, and the insurgents are instantly to move from all points on the Tuileries." "What is the object?" "The seizure, or death, of the King and Royal Family!" "And the result of that object?" "The proclamation of a Republic!"
Westerman first had the horses fed, and having then refreshed his men with meat, wine, and brandy, he started at two o'clock. He was distant from Clisson about three leagues, according to the measurement of the country, or a little better than seven miles.
He felt that he could not offer a woman his protection, that he might carry her to a scaffold. At about two, Westerman started on his expedition. His men carried their sabres, still sheathed, in their hands, to prevent the noise which they would have made rattling against their saddles; but still their journey through the country was anything but quiet.
"Worse again, Henri, worse again; was it not he who headed the rebels on the tenth of August, when our sainted King was driven from his home?" "Yes, the same Westerman is now to drive us from our homes; or rather to burn us, our homes, and all together such at least is the task allotted to him."
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