Joseph de Puisaye

Federalism with the counter-revolution

Though large admiror of the British constitution, favorable to the reforms, it becomes adverse solved with the mode because of the committal for trial of the king. He joined the opposition of Gironde and receives, jointly with Wimpffen, the command of the federalistic army of Normandy in 1793.

Its troops will be put in rout in July, at the time of the Bataille of Brécourt, called “battles without tears”, because, actually, the confrontation was not one… Puisaye had spent the night in its castle of Ménilles, where his wife was, leaving its army camped not far from there, on the plate of Madrie, near the Château of Brécourt. The federalistic troops, rather little justified, and undoubtedly embrumées by the vapors of the drinkings which they had made during the night thanks to the cellars of the castle and with those of the close village, were awaked in start at dawn by a blow of gun fired by the opposite camp… That is enough to cause a panic, a precipitated retirement and a general rout…

Puisaye enters clandestinity then. It gains the Brittany, where it rejoins and reorganizes in the department of Ille-et-Vilaine the remains of the chouannery, to which the brothers Chouan had given their name. It is shown very active, contacting with other chiefs, creating a military council, emitting a paper money, sending emissary to London, from where it will end up receiving capacities of the Count d' Artois and weapon and silver helps of the English government. Redoubling efforts to become the federator of the royalist confederation of Brittany, it multiplies the proclamations, and, although it is not recognized by the totality of the other chouans chiefs, it will end up seeming the heart of the royalist party in this country.

The forwarding of Quiberon

In September 1794, it passes secretly to England, where it is accommodated in a reserved way. The emigrants consider it readily, indeed, as like a friend of circumstance, even an agent of Convention. Puisaye however binds with the Count de Botherel and with Walk, bishop of Saint-pol. of Leon. It ends up obtaining from the count d' Artois (future Charles X), then with Edinburgh, of the quasi unlimited capacities, and gains the confidence of the ministers Pitt, Windham, and Dundas. The latter finish by him entrusting the responsibility for an operation of unloading on the coasts of Brittany, jointly with Louis Charles d' Hervilly. This last had received the command of the regiments of emigrants, while Puisaye, provided with the title of general lieutenant, had full authority on the royalists of the interior in Brittany and Normandy.

Brought by a fleet of three ship of the lines, six frigates and some drain-holes, escorting 97 boats of transport, the army of the emigrants unloads in two times with Quiberon starting from June 25th, 1795.

The plan of Puisaye consisted in going at once after the unloading in the interior of Brittany to generalize the insurrection. D' Hervilly, on the contrary, with Charles de Sombreuil, hesitates: it is confined in the peninsula of Quiberon while waiting for reinforcements. The general Lazare Shakes, benefits from the situation, occupies the ground, seizes strong Penthièvre, which orders the entry of the peninsula, and starts the combat against an adversary still badly organized. One will count 1200 dead in the rows of the emigrants. 10.000 prisoners are made by the troops of Notch. The instructions of Convention, relayed by the police chiefs of the Republic, Blad and Tallien, were without call. The women and the children are given in freedom, but 757 death sentences are marked (a little more than 600 emigrants and a hundred chouans); some rare condemned will manage to escape before the execution (between six and thirty following sources).

Puisaye, with some emigrants, managed to join the English fleet. Its adversaries will denounce its responsibilities in the business by using the epithets more outrageantes.

Being made unload again in Brittany in unfavorable circumstances, it fails in its attempt to federate the royalist forces. Its mortuary and its height make it unpopular, the more so as it is in hillock with criticisms of the close relations of Cadoudal. Repudiated by the Count d' Artois, of which he had announced the arrival in the Vendée prematurely, he cancels his command on December 5th, 1797.

One rejected

He passes by again then in London, obtains English government in August 1798 a concession in the Comté of York, with the Canada, together with few subsidies. Followed few officers and soldiers him having remained faithful, there try to establish a colony chouanne to with it. It will be a failure, and Puisaye will settle in the Niagara before returning to England in 1803.

In London, it must face the hostility of the emigrants and princes (the count d' Artois in particular). They are shown indeed dubitative as for the sincerity of its royalism; they dispute its military capacities, and they are not far from regarding it as an instrument of the English government, the more so as it had obtained British nationality in 1802. Puisaye will irritate more by publishing its Mémoires in six volumes, plea pro domo , highly disputed by its adversaries.

Puisaye did not return to France after the Restoration, certainly because of the hostility of Louis XVIII, the future Charles X and the majority of the former emigrants. It continued to live in England, where it received a substantial pension of the British government. He died in Blythe-House close to Hammersmith.

Its files were bequeathed to British Museum.

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