Battalion of the Girl-Saint-Thomas

The battalion of the Girl-Saint-Thomas belongs to the National guard of Paris, created on July 13rd 1789. It is especially known for its participation in the defense of the Palais of Tileries, at the time of the Journée of August 10th, 1792, but before the fall of monarchy, it plays a big role in repression of the various Parisian insurrections and at the time of the royalist Insurrection of the 13 vendémiaire year IV. Renamed section the Furrier, it constitutes the spearhead of the demonstrators. And yet the survivors of the Journée of August 10th, 1792 are almost all died during the Massacres of September or guillotines.

Before the Day of August 10th, 1792

A battalion aristocrat ?

Nothing leaves think into 1789 that this battalion will become a battalion aristocrat . The first commander of the battalion of the Girl-Saint-Thomas is Louis Felix Guynement de Kéralio, father of Louise-Happiness of Kéralio, woman of letters and feminist. The 60 battalions correspond to the 60 districts of the capital receive each one a flag during September 89 and August. François Robert, son-in-law of Louis Felix Guynement de Kéralio, notes that the epigraph of its newspaper, national Mercury , hardly changes that of the flag of the district of the Girl-Saint-Thomas: To live free or die . The battalion and the district are of nothing hostile with the novel ideas:

Nicolas-Jean Hugou de Bassville is member of the committee of district

Louis de Milly, American, citizen of Paris, lawyer to the Parliament of Paris, are one of the police chiefs named by the district of the Girl-Saint-Thomas; for the examination of the relative question to the freedom and the abolition of the draft of the negros.

Tassin of the Pond, the second chief of this battalion, sees in October 1789 an individual with a black rosette, rallying sign of the enemies of the Revolution, at once it tears off it to him and presses it with the foot.

However the pomegranates of the battalion of the Girl-Saint-Thomas are very often of the middle-class men, of moderated mood, who are very attached to the king and the Constitution. They are bankers, stockbrokers, merchants. As they had, from the day when the king came to Paris to share the service of the castle with troops of elite, and in particular with Switzerland, they did not want to be ridiculous and were involved. Breaking into leaf and the Girl-Saint-Thomas operate like old soldiers .

Madam Agathe de Rambaud which deals with the education of the future Louis XVII, by telling her memories of 1785 to 1792, with her family and her close relations, will insist on the differences in attitude of the battalions which in turn ensure the guard the Palais of Tileries, during more than two years. But, the attitude of the National guard in 1792 is regarded as much less honest, by the close relations of the royal family. She varies indeed battalion with another:

One evening, whereas at the Tuileries excellent a National guard arrives, the queen goes to the small garden of the Dolphin, of which it returns by the terrace of Water. The federate ones which passes on the quay, having seen the Queen, insult it. Marie-Antoinette wants to withdraw herself, but the national Guards beg it of nothing to make and to let to them learn with these funny-there that one do not fear them. They are then put to shout:

- Lives the King and the royal family!

the federate ones complain about it the following day with the legislative Assemblée, which, though educated of their insolence, congratulates them. The national guards which accompany the Queen are battalion of the Girl-Saint-Thomas .

the battalions of the Girl-Saint-Thomas, the Small-Fathers, Henri IV and that of Large-Augustins, protected us from the brigands and of factious will write Madam de Tourzel in her memories .

Last defenders of the king

The constitutional Garde of the king is dissolved on May 29th, 1792 by the legislative Assemblée. The duke of Brissac is issued of arrest, and the stations of the Palais of Tileries, are given to the National guard.

The National guard and the Swiss guards are the last troops ensuring the defense of the king vis-a-vis the revolutionists. However if the general Galiot Mandat of Grancey always guarantees on his head the good intentions of the king , because of escape of Varennes and of revolutionary propaganda, it does not succeed in any more convincing the unit of the national guards. The battalions of the suburbs Saint-Anthony and Saint-Marceau are frankly hostile besides for him as of 89, and, in the other battalions, the poorest guards are favorable to the ideas jacobines.

After this dissolution Fayette becomes a traitor with the eyes of certain revolutionists, because it comes to Paris to defend the king and the Constitution.

Last repetitions before the final attack

The June 20th, 1792, Boscary de Villeplaine, the second in command of the battalion flies to the defense of the royal family. Three pomegranate rows of the battalion of the Girl-Saint-Thomas line up in front of the table and after a fashion protects the royal family from crowd.

The July 14th, 1792 , at the time of the second Festival of the Federation, the King leaves at midday the Palais Tileries, to go to the Champ de Mars, having in its car the queen, her two children, Mrs Elisabeth, and Madam the princess of Lamballe. The escort of the king is made up of Swiss and many pomegranates of the national guard. It succeeds in ensuring its protection. Even if François-Rene de Chateaubriand notes that P aris did not have any more in 1792, the aspect of 1789 and 1790. It was not any more the incipient Revolution, it was drunk people going to his destinies through the abysses, by stray ways. The appearance of the people tumultuous, furious, was not hastened, it was threatening. One met, in the streets, only alarming or savage figures, people who slipped along the houses in order to not be not seen, or which ground seeking their prey… .

The July 20th, 1792 , a rumor is propagated: the deputies of the left side were assassinated by the aristocrats… 10000 rifles are stored with Tileries. ” It is again the insurrection, but, this time, 4 to 5.000 national guards go to the castle, and federated and the men with spade of the suburbs are wary of their attitude. The king orders with Pétion to come to check the presence of his weapons.

The July 30th, 1792 , Duhamel, lieutenant of the battalion of the Girl-Saint-Thomas, stockbroker, is killed by Marseillais and several other Guards are more or less seriously wounded. Their comrades come to their help and wound Marseilles national guards…. They take refuge with the Palais of Tileries. Mandat makes raise the drawbridge. They are looked after, bandaged by the queen and the women. The pomegranates of the Girl-Saint-Thomas, mobilized at once by an order of Mandat direct their guns in front of the Italian Comedy and Theodore de Lameth proposes to attack the barracks of the Marseillais. But Tassin, the major of the Girl-Saint-Thomas, requires a legal requisition. Mathieu Dumas request so that the corpse of Duhamel is carried to the bar of the Parliament, but Charles Barbaroux will tell later that the business is a plot intended to massacre the Marseillais . The following day, the Révolutions of Paris tell that six or seven hundred men equipped with black, all knights of Saint-Louis spent the night to the castle . Marie-Antoinette worries in a letter with Fersen that a hundred and eighty pomegranates escaped… Taine will not be astonished any: of the prompt men to the blows always carries it on merchants .

Fayette written: One says to me that the battalion of the Girl-Saint-Thomas sent his pomegranates to Metz… this August 4th, 1792 . What perhaps explains why they are only 600, to see even 400 by adding some guards of the Small-Fathers to it, according to other sources.

The Day of August 10th, 1792

Mandate and Marie-Antoinette

To reinforce the national guard, Mandat calls upon sixteen battalions as of on August 5th, 1792, but only a little more than two thousand men agree to take part in the defense of the Palais of Tileries. Moreover, if the battalions of the Small-Fathers and the Girl-Saint-Thomas express while arriving their devotion to the royal cause, it is not the same for the majority of the others, in particular for that of the gunners of the Valley-of-Grace who, ordered by the Langlade captain, at any moment seem ready to pass on the side of the insurrectionists. Marie-Antoinette, in front of her apartments, harangue twenty pomegranates of the national guard:

- Sirs, all that you have of more expensive, your wives and your children, depend on our existence, our interest is common.

and indicating the noble ones to them which prepares to undergo the attack of the enemies in the apartments, it adds:

- You should not have distrust of these good people who will share your dangers and will die until the last to defend their King .

The servants of the Tileries and the noble ones, of which some came in uniform from pomegranates from the national guard with the bonnet from bear, in general are badly armed.

Part of the officers of the Girl-Saint-Thomas soupent on August 9th with members of the Club of Breaking into leaf the, some notable and Moreau de Saint-Méry. They multiply toasts with the king and the Constitution. The simple guards drank a little them-also to give courage. They fear the Parisian rioters, because they as we saw, defended several times Tileries. The sacrifice of their life appears perhaps excessive to them. The national guards have only three cartridges per man.

The defense of the Palate of Tileries

The guards are distributed during the night from August 9th to 10th in the various stations. The battalion of the Girl-Saint-Thomas is placed close to the house of Marsan, of national pomegranates, on the first floor of the Galerie of the edge of water, on two rows, one turned towards the Seine and the other towards the court of the Princes, and the gunners, in the three courses. One lays out five parts of gun in the Royale court, between the door and the entry of the hall, framed of a battalion of national guards on a side and a battalion of Suisses guards of the other. The same number of parts is placed in front of the central house on the side of the garden. Lastly, of the national guards are placed at the New Pont and under the arcade Midsummer's Day, place of Strike. They keep also the exits of the Terrace of Breaking into leaf.

The gendarmerie with horse, especially made up of old soldiers of the gardes-fran1caises, is not sure. On the whole, defense can count only on fifteen or sixteen hundred faithful men. And they miss ammunition. In the night, Tassin of the Pond, the major of the Girl-Saint-Thomas, and his/her brother meet the king. Boscary de Villeplaine, the second in command of the battalion, meets it him several times.

The last paddle

August 10th, at four o'clock in the morning, bursts a quarrel, between the adjudant-general Doucet and the Langlade captain about the position of the parts of gun, that Langlade judges too close to Carry-royal and that it makes move back to the great displeasure of the adjudant. The gunners of the Valley-of-Grace, who do not hide their republican feelings, threaten to make defection at the time when the patriots will pass to the attack. The pomegranates of the Girl-Saint-Thomas retort to them that they will not hesitate to push them to make fire while using of the force of their bayonets.

Acloque, chief of the second legion of the national guard, hastens to warn the royal family, joined together in the room of the king, of the imminence of the danger. To alleviate crowd, Louis XVI agrees to show himself, and goes in the room of the bull's eye where it is surrounded by Acloque, several officers, the ministers Lajard and Chambonas, Mrs Elisabeth and other people still. He lets himself place in the embrasure of one of the windows of the part, while one lays out in front of him several rows of benches to protect it. Six royalist pomegranates of the battalion of the Girl-Saint-Thomas arrive at the same moment. The sergeant of the gunners, Jolly places himself at the right-hand side of the king, a pomegranate, Auguste, with his left, and the marshal of Mouchy assied in front.

Pétion and the Swiss guards

Pretexting extreme heat, Pétion goes down then on the terrace. It is badly received there by the national guards loyal supporters of the Girl-Saint-Thomas. Consequently he any more but does not think of putting himself at the shelter. The guards keeps it of force and it is slackened only after the reiterated orders of the king. Of bad grace, in its capacity as mayor Pétion sign the order to push back the force by the force, if the castle is attacked.

Framed well, accustomed to a strict discipline, the majority of the Swiss guards, though the departure of the two companies which accompanied the royal family with the Parliament has them strong tiny rooms, is still capable of resistance. Some are with the windows with voluntary gentlemen, others were massed on the steps of the large staircase which going down from the apartments and the vault emerges in the hall. Mixed with the blue clothes with the Girl-Saint-Thomas, protected by a species from barricade, rifle out of cheek, they await the attack.

After the Day of August 10th, 1792

Overcome

The national guards of the Girl-Saint-Thomas which were not killed in the engagements try to flee, in spite of the attackers who seek the defenders of the palate. Some will die in prison of the continuations of their wounds, or are killed during the Massacres of September which follow. Boscary de Villeplaine , the second in command, hides in the Brie, then when about fifty soldiers seek it, it takes refuge in the Beaujolais wine, and from there passes to Switzerland.

For the survivors of the battalion of the Girl-Saint-Thomas, it is the last act of resistance. The Club of Breaking into leaf the, the pomegranate companies and hunters of the National guard which form the force of the middle-class are dissolved. Many officers of the Guard must give up their functions and the companies of elite are removed.

The majority of the escaped defenders of the Palais of Tileries are stopped little by little. It is the case of Weber , pomegranate of the battalion of the Saint-Thomas Girls, foster brother of Marie-Antoinette. A report/ratio of the police chiefs named by the Parliament of August 12th, 1792 is written on the control of the battalion of the Girl-Saint-Thomas, from August 9th to 10th. The section changes name: first of all section of 1792, then Lepelletier. The revolutionists show pomegranates of participations in the plots liberticides of the tyrant Capet .

The future Marshal of Empire, François Joseph Lefebvre, husband of Mrs Sans-gêne, first sergeant of the French Guards the April 9th 1788, is not imprisoned, but it was not there. However, it entered as instructor the battalion of the Girl-Saint-Thomas and, with the head of a detachment of this battalion, is wounded twice by defending the royal family. First once, while trying to protect it with the return to the Palate from Tileries, after its departure for Saint-Cloud, a second by supporting the escape towards Rome of the aunts of the king Louis XVI and in 1792, it saves the case of discount of plundering.

Anonymous guillotines or almost

14 Floréal, year II (May 3rd 1794) are led place of the Revolution officers and pomegranates of the battalion of the Girl-Saint-Thomas, survivors of the combat of the August 10th, 1792:

Tassin Gabriel (known as Letang) , 50 years old, above, banker, and ordering battalion of the girl-St-Thomas, born and domiciled in Paris, as counter-revolutionary of Paris, counter-revolutionary, having soaked in the conspiracy, and having assisted the plots liberticides of the tyrant capet, at the day of the August 10th, 1792. Tassin of the Pond replaced Anne Charles of Montmorency-Luxembourg (1737-1803), like large general administrator of the Grand the East of France. Actually its judgment is due also to the fact that it makes pass from the funds to emigrated customers and he is owner of printing works, which are put under sequestration.

Bérard Thomas Simon , 53 years old, born in Lyon, former trader ship-owner, domiciled in Paris, department of the Seine, ordering battalion of the girl-Thomas, condemned to dead the 14 floréal year 2, by the revolutionary tribunal of Paris, as accessory to a conspiracy which existed in favor of capet and his wife, of the massacre of the citizens to the field of Mars, on July 17th, 1791, and to that of the August 10th, 1792 . Actually Bérard forever be ordering battalion of the Girl-Saint-Thomas. He is captain of the 3rd Company of the battalion of the Girls of the Martyrdom. With its lawsuit, Bérard protests that he had never liked Tassin of the Pond, its major, that they were, on the contrary, in bad terms since the beginning of the Revolution . It attests that it always showed to good patriot and dedicated republican . The August 10th, 1792, it accompanies the royal family with Convention.

Tassin Louis Daniel , old of 52 years, above temporary banker, and appointed of the Third in Paris, born and domiciled at Paris, department of the Seine, condemned to death, the 14 floréal year 2, by the revolutionary tribunal of Paris, as counter-revolutionary, having soaked in the conspiracy and having assisted the plots liberticides of the tyrant capet, at the day of the August 10th, 1792. During Terror the Grand the East of France was put in sleep of 1793 to 1796. Two workshops maintain an activity during this period. This Tassin is member with his brother, Tassin of the Pond, of the Parisian maconnic cabin, the Center of the Friends , during Terror. It is stopped as of 1793.

Weinmaring Jean Philippe , or Van Maring, banking, clerk 40 years old, born in Malchem department of the Low-Rhine, domiciled in Paris department of the Seine, condemned to dead the 14 floréal year 2, by the revolutionary tribunal séante in Paris, like accomplice of Tassin and agent of the conspiracy of capet to the August 10th, 1792 Capitaine of pomegranates.

Stake Simon , second-hand dealer and aide-de-camp of Crillon, 39 years old, native of Strasbourg, domiciled in Paris, department of the Seine, condemned to death, the 14 floréal year 2, by the tribunal revolutionary of Paris, as counter-revolutionary, accessory to tassin, and agent of the conspiracy of the tyrant capet with the August 10th, 1792.

Laurent François-Hippolyte , glazier, second lieutenant of the battalion of the girl-St-Thomas, born on July 25th, 1766 in Paris.

Maulget Joseph Louis , 46 years old, architect, born and domiciled at Villers-Coterets, department of Aisne, condemned to dead the 14 floréal year 2, by the revolutionary tribunal of Paris, as counter-revolutionary. Captain of the battalion of the girl-St-Thomas.

Rougemont Etienne Jacques Armand , director of the accountancy of the lotteries, 42 years old, native of Coursenson, department of the Sarthe, condemned to death, the 14 floréal year 2, by the revolutionary tribunal of Paris, as convinced to have soaked in the conspiracy and to have assisted the plots of capet, its family in the Journée of August 10th, 1792. Etienne de Rougemont.

Angibeau Pierre Etienne , 57 years old, born and domiciled in Paris, delicatessen, pomegranate of the battalion of the girl St Thomas, condemned to dead 14 Floréal year 2, by the revolutionary tribunal of Paris, as convinced to be an author or accessory to a plot which existed between capet and his wife, tending to disturb the state security, while carrying breach of liberty of the people, and whose continuations cost the life great number of citizens to the field of Mars, on July 17th, 1791, and in the Journée of August 10th, 1792.

Parisot François , above police chief of accountancy, pomegranate of the girls St Thomas and aide-de-camp of Fayette, 50 years old, native of Lyon, department of the Rhone, domiciled in Paris, department of the Seine, condemned to died like the 14 floréal year 2, by the tribunal revolutionary of Paris, as counter-revolutionary, accessory to named Tassin, and agent of the conspiracy of capet, with the August 10th, 1792. It is not pomegranate of the girls St Thomas, but police chief of the accountancy of the Girls of the Martyrdom.

Deschamps Jean Baptist (known as Trefontaine) , 51 years old, native of Rouen, pomegranate of the battalion of the girls St Thomas, employee at the registry office, domiciled in Paris, condemned to died as accessory to a plot which existed in favor of capet and his wife, the 14 floréal year 2, by the revolutionary tribunal of Paris.

Dangest Louis Gabriel , 48 years old, native of Rumigny department of the Ardennes, Musketeer, knight of above the order of St Louis, pomegranate of the battalion of the girls St Thomas in Paris, condemned to dead the 11 floréal year 2, by the revolutionary tribunal of Paris, as accessory to a plot which existed between capet and its wife. the brother of the future general of Hangest become pomegranate of the battalion of the Saint-Thomas girls, walk with the help of the king in the day of the Day of August 10th, 1792. He manages to flee of the Palais of Tileries, but is denounced and stopped like accomplice of a plot of Louis XVI and guillotine on April 30th, 1794.

Peret Jacques , above stockbroker, ordering battalion of the Small fathers, 36 years old, native of Manteville, department of the Apple-brandy, domiciled with Évreux, department of the Eure, condemned to dead the 14 floréal year 2, by the revolutionary tribunal of Paris, as convinced of complicity with Tassin, and agent of the conspiracy of the tyrant king, in the Journée of August 10th, 1792.

Perret Pierre Jacques and noble Denys Repoux de Chevagny is carried out with its members of the battalion. They are thrown in a common grave to the Cimetière of Errancis. Prior of the Gold Coast, introduces the brother of Tassin of the Pond like one of the most perfidious leaders of the section .

Other sources will speak about seventeen simple pomegranates carried out or 22 and will note that the battalion of pomegranates of the Saint-Thomas Girls entire is delivered to a two years proscription. Part of the survivors emigrate or try to hide.

The royalist Insurrection of the 13 vendémiaire year IV

Nevertheless, the 13 Vendémiaire, established with the convent of the Girl-Saint-Thomas on the current site of the Stock Exchange, the section of the Girl-Saint-Thomas, renamed Lepeletier, constitutes the spearhead of the demonstrators.

The 10 vendémiaire, the Lepeletier section calls with the insurrection and convenes its voters for the 11. It invites the forty seven other sections to form a Central committee to act against the tyranny of Convention . Under the influence of the Brotier abbot, chief of the royalist agency of Paris, lampoonists and journalists break out the abbot André Morellet, Jean-François of the Toothing-stone, Quatremère de Quincy, Guillaume Alexandre Tronsson, Charles de Lacretelle, Joseph Fiévée tackles Convention and the Committees by make out burning. The republican Mail , the republican Bulletin , the universal Gazette , Daily the , the Messenger of the evening , well of others still is filled of insults and anathemas, of calls to disobedience and the insurrection.

Eighty voters of 15 sections go there. The evening of the 11 vendémiaire, seven sections are declared in insurrection: the Lepeletier sections, Ridges Mills, Contract-Social, Th3e4atre Fran1cais, Brutus, Temple and Poissonnière.

October 4th, 1795, Convention, informed preparations of the royalists, brings back its decrees on the disarmament of the terrorist . The following day (13 vendémiaire year IV), it charges Paul Barras command with the troops of Paris and associates five generals Jacobins to him, of which Napoleon Bonaparte and Guillaume Marie-Anne Brune. In fact, it is Napoleon who directs the operations. He charges Joachim Murat, then major, to seize the forty guns of the sections gathered with the camp of Fine sands. These guns are placed at the ends of all the streets which lead to Convention…

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