Battle of Cholet

The battles of Cholet is held the October 17th 1793, during the Guerre of the Vendée. She sees the victory of the republican weapons.

Strategy of the catholic Royal army

The had aim is Cholet " small capital of the kingdom of the émigrés" , and where the every day manpower of the catholic and royal Armée are reinforced.

Strategy of the republican army

The republican forces go on the catholic royal army divided into three. Hand-barrow, assisted representative Louis Turreau, must since Luçon bring the column of the south known as also Sands. Kléber, flanked Merlin of Thionville, order the column of the nord : on the basis of Montaigu, it moves towards the east in direction of Tiffauges. As for the column of Châtillon, famous least sure, it to him is assigned a secondary role: it is necessary for him to go to the meeting held on both others to the height of Beaupréau.

During all this theoretical approach of the combat to come, Jean-Baptiste Carrier observes, intervenes little but takes note of all.

October 14th, 1793, all the device shakes. The junction is established in the day of October 16th, 1793 between the first two columns, that of Châtillon joined them in the night.

Battle of Cholet

October 17th, 1793, the battle of Cholet can start. The White (the catholic and royal Army) advance “with, at their head, most famous of their chiefs and a formidable artillery” (J. - B. Carrier). In spite of some disordered movements, the republicans rather quickly take the top on an adversary little accustomed to the arranged battle. At the evening of engagement, the victory is with Blue (Republicans). In addition to several thousands of died and casualties, the insurrectionists count two generals except combat (of Elbée and Bonchamp) ; they lost twenty six guns and nearly ten thousand republican prisoners were delivered or are about to be it by their brothers in arms. D' Elbée and Bonchamp was saved by François de Lyrot.

Hustled, pressed of all shares, the White are bound on banks of the Loire and get busy to cross the river.

After the battle

According to the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Carrier, most of the winners of Cholet installs its quarterings with Oudon and Ancenis, on Right Bank of the Loire; Jean Léchelle would have wished to establish his districts near Nantes but Carrier does not hear it thus. The presence of the soldiers on the Loire is of in its eyes double interest, on the one hand, they can supervise the axis Nantes-Angers and supplement the action of the armed ships patrolling on the river in " nettoyant" its banks and, in addition, they are distant from Nantes.

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