"They would
listen to no reason; a fine army and well-mounted artillery were to
perish with cold and hunger, for no object whatever, in quarters that
might have been avoided." The details are heart-rending. Never was
military heroism so sacrificed to the folly of civilian commanders.
[116] See Paris, "Histoire de Joseph Lebon," I., ch. I, for
biographical details and traits of character.
[117] Ibid., I., 13. - His mother became crazy and was put in an
asylum. Her derangement, he says, was due to "her indignation at his
oath of allegiance (to the Republic) and at his appointment to the
curacy of Nouvelle-Vitasse."
[118] Ibid., I., 123. Speech by Lebon in the church of Beaurains.
[119] Ibid., II., 71, 72. - Cf. 85. "Citizen Chamonart, wine-
dealer, standing at the entrance of his cellar, sees the
representative pass, looks at him and does not salute him. Lebon
steps up to him, arrests him, treats him as an "agent of Pitt and
Cobourg.". . . ." They search him, take his pocket-book and lead
him off to the Anglaises (a prison").
[120] Ibid., II., 84.
[121] Moniteur, XXV., 201. (Session of Messidor 22, year III.) "When
in the tribune (of the Convention) prison conspiracies were announced.
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