12 - Celebrated Crimes - The Massacres of the South by Alexandre Dumas

Dumass Celebrated Crimes isnt a series designed for the faint-hearted. The novelist pulls no punches in his graphic depiction of a tumultuous era, sometimes distorting facts and levelling unfounded accusations. Its a riveting read intended for discerning, seasoned readers who can appreciate and account for the authors dramatic liberties. As per the publishers note.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter seven, Section one of Celebrated Crimes, Volume two, The
Massacres of the South. This is a LibriVox recording. All
LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information
or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by
John van stan Savannah, Georgia. Celebrated Crimes, Volume two, The

(00:22):
Massacres of the South by Alexander Dumas, Chapter seven, Section one.
The Protestants, as we have said, hailed the golden dawn
of the revolution with delight. Then came the terror, which
struck at all without distinction of creed. A hundred and
thirty eight heads fell on the scaffold, condemned by the
Revolutionary Tribunal of the Guard. Ninety one of those executed

(00:46):
were Catholic and forty seven Protestants, so that it looked
as if the executioners, in their desire for impartiality, had
taken a census of the population. Then came the consulate.
The Protestants, being mostly tradesmen and manufacturers, were therefore richer
than the Catholics, and had more to lose. They seemed

(01:06):
to see more chance of stability in this form of
government than in those preceding it, and it was evident
that it had a more powerful genius at its head,
so they rallied round it with confidence and sincerity. The
Empire followed with its inclination to absolutism, its continental system,
and its increased taxation, and the Protestants drew back somewhat,

(01:28):
for it was towards them who had hoped so much
from him, that Napoleon, in not keeping the promises of Bonaparte,
was most perjured. The first Restoration, therefore, was greeted at
Nemes with a universal shout of joy, and a superficial
observer might have thought that all trace of the old
religious eleven had disappeared. In fact, for seventeen years, the

(01:50):
two faiths had lived side by side in perfect peace
and mutual good will. For seventeen years men met either
for business or for social purposes, without an acquiring about
each other's religion, so that Nimes, on the surface might
have been held up as an example of union and fraternity.
When Moncheur arrived at Nimes, his guard of honor was

(02:10):
drawn from the city guard, which still retained its organization
of eighteen twelve, being composed of citizens without distinction of creed.
Six decorations were conferred on it, three on Catholics and
three on Protestants at the same time. Monsieur Dunant, Monsieur
Olivier des Mont, and Monsieur Decienne, the first the mayor,
the second the president of the consistory, and the third

(02:34):
a member of the prefecture. All three belonging to the
Reformed religion, received the same favor. Such impartiality on the
part of Moncheur almost betrayed a preference, and this offended
the Catholics. They muttered to one another that in the past,
there had been a time when the fathers of those
who had just been decorated by the hand of the
prince had fought against his faithful adherents. Hardly had Moncheur

(02:57):
left the town. Therefore, than it became a parent that
perfect harmony no longer existed. The Catholics had a favorite cafe, which,
during the whole time the empire lasted, was also frequented
by Protestants, without a single dispute caused by the difference
of religion ever arising. But from this time forth the
Catholics began to hold themselves aloof from the Protestants. The

(03:19):
latter perceiving this, gave up the cafe by degrees to
the Catholics, being determined to keep the peace whatever it
might cost, and went to a cafe which had been
just opened under the sign of the Isle of Elba.
The name was enough to cause them to be regarded
as bonapartis, and as to bonapartis, to cry long live
the King was supposed to be offensive. They were saluted

(03:41):
at every turn with these words, pronounced in a tone
which became every day more menacing. At first they gave
back the same cry, long Live the King, but then
they were called cowards who expressed with their lips a
sentiment which did not come from their hearts. Feeling that
this accusation had some truth in it, they were silent.

(04:02):
But then they were accused of hating the royal family.
Till at length the cry, which at first had issued
from full hearts in a universal chorus, grew to be
nothing but an expression of party hatred, so that on
the twenty first February eighteen fifteen, Monsieur Dunant, the Mayor,
by a decree, prohibited the public from using it, as
it had become a means of exciting sedition. Party feeling

(04:24):
had reached this height at Nimes, when on the fourth
March the news of the landing of Napoleon arrived. Deep
as was the impression produced, the city remained calm, but
somewhat sullen. In any case, the report wanted confirmation. Napoleon,
who knew of the sympathy that the mountaineers felt for him,
went at once to the Alps, and his eagle did

(04:47):
not as yet take so high a flight that it
could be seen hovering above Mount Geneve. On the twelfth
the Duke Dangulem arrived two proclamations calling the citizens to arms,
signalized to sa The citizens answered the call with true
Southern ardor an army was formed. But although Protestants and

(05:07):
Catholics presented themselves for enrollment with equal alacrity, the Protestants
were excluded, the Catholics, denying the right of defending their
legitimate sovereign to any but themselves. This species of selection
apparently went on without the knowledge of the Duke Dangulema.
During his stay and names he received Protestants and Catholics

(05:27):
with equal cordiality. Then they sat at his table side
by side. It happened once on a Friday at dinner
that a Protestant general took fish and a Catholic general
helped himself to foul. The Duke, being amused, drew attention
to this anomaly, whereupon the Catholic general replied a better
more chicken, and less treason. This attack was so direct

(05:49):
that although the Protestant general felt that as far as
he was concerned, it had no point, he rose from
the table and left the room. It was the brave
General Gilly who was true in this cruel manner. Meanwhile,
the news became more disastrous every day. Napoleon was moving
about with the rapidity of his eagles. On the twenty

(06:09):
fourth March, it was reported in Names that Louis the
eighteenth had left Paris on the nineteenth and that Napoleon
had entered on the twentieth. This report was traced to
its source, and it was found that it had been
spread abroad by Monsheur Vincent to Saint Laurent, a councilor
of the prefecture and one of the most respected men
in Names. He was summoned at once before the authorities

(06:32):
and asked whence he had this information. He replied from
a letter received from Monsieur Bragera, producing the letter, but
convincing as was this proof had availed him nothing. He
was escorted from brigade to brigade till he reached the
Chateau d'If. The Protestants sided with Monsheur Vincent to Saint Laurent.
The Catholics took the part of the authorities who were

(06:54):
persecuting him, and thus the two factions, which had been
so long quiescent, found themselves once more face to face,
and their dormant hatred awoke to new life. For the moment, however,
there was no explosion, although the city was at fever
heat and everyone felt that a crisis was at hand.
On the twenty second March, two battalions of Catholic volunteers

(07:17):
had already been enlisted at Nimes and had formed part
of the eighteen hundred men who were sent to Saint Esprit.
Just before their departure, fleur de lis had been distributed
amongst them, made of red cloth. This change in the
color of the monarchical emblem was a threat which the
Protestants well understood. The Prince left Nemes in due course,

(07:38):
taking with him the rest of the royal volunteers, and
leaving the Protestants practically masters of names. During the absence
of so many Catholics. The city, however, continued calm, and
when provocations began, strange to say they came from the
weaker party. On the twenty seventh March, six men met
in a barn, dined together, and then agreed to make

(07:59):
the circuit of the town. These men were Jacques du Pont,
who later acquired such terrible celebrity under the name of Trestaillon, Trufemi,
the butcher, Morenet, the dog shearer, coors servant, and Guile.
They got opposite the cafe Isle of Elba, the name
of which indicated the opinion of those who frequented it.

(08:20):
This cafe was faced by a guard house, which was
occupied by soldiers of the sixty seventh Regiment. The six
made a halt, and in the most insulting tones raised
the cry of long Live the King. The disturbance that
ensued was so slight that we only mention it in
order to give an idea of the tolerance of the Protestants,
and to bring upon the stage the men mentioned above,

(08:41):
who were three months later to play such a terrible
part on April first, the mayor summoned to a meeting
at his official residence, the municipal Council, the members of
all the variously constituted administrative bodies and Nimes, the officers
of the city guards, the priests, the Protestant pastors, and
the chief citizens. At this meeting, Montour Trinquelag, advocate of

(09:04):
the royal courts, read a powerful address expressing the love
of the citizens for their king and country and exhorting
them to union in peace. This address was unanimously adopted
and signed by all present, and amongst the signatures were
those of the principal Protestants of Nimes. But this was
not all. The next day was printed and published, and

(09:24):
copies sent to all the communes in the department over
which the white flag still floated. And all this happened,
as we have said, on April and eleven days after
Napoleon's returned to Paris. The same day word arrived that
the imperial government had been proclaimed at Montpellier. The next day,
April third, all the officers on half pay assembled at

(09:45):
the fountain to be reviewed by a general and a
sub inspector. And as these officers were late, the Order
of the Day issued by General Ambert, recognizing the Imperial government,
was produced and passed along the ranks, causing such excitement
that one of the offic officers drew his sword and cried,
long Live the Emperor. These magic words were re echoed

(10:05):
from every side, and they all hastened to the barracks
of the sixty third Regiment, which had once joined the
officers at this juncture. Marshal Pelissier arrived and did not
appear to welcome the turn things had taken. He made
an effort to restrain the enthusiasm of the crowd, but
was immediately arrested by his own soldiers. The officers repaired

(10:26):
in a body to the headquarters of General brich commandant
of the garrison, then asked for the official copy of
the Order of the day. He replied that he had
received none, and when questioned as to which side he
was on, he refused to answer. The officers, upon this
took him prisoner. Just as they had consigned him to
the barracks for confinement. A Post Office official arrived bringing

(10:49):
a despatch from General Ambert. Learning that General Briche was
a prisoner, the messenger carried his packet to the colonel
of the sixty third Regiment, who was the next in seniority,
f ter the General. In opening it, it was found
to contain the order of the day. Instantly the colonel
order the guineaal to sound, the town guards assumed arms,

(11:11):
the troops left the barracks, informed in line, the National
Guards in the rear of the regular troops, and when
they were all thus drawn up, the order of the
day was read. It was then snatched out of the
colonel's hands, printed on large placards, and in less time
than seemed possible, it was posted up in every street
and at every street corner. The tricolor replaced the white cockade,

(11:33):
everyone being obliged to wear the national emblem or none
at all. The city was proclaimed in a state of siege,
and the military officers formed a vigilance committee and a
police force. While the Duke Dangulema had been staying at Nimes,
General Gilly had applied for a command in that Prince's army,
but in spite of all his efforts obtained nothing. So
immediately after the dinner at which he was insulted, he

(11:55):
had withdrawn to Avarnada, his place in the country. In
the night of the fifth to sixth April by a
courier from General Ambert, who sent to offer him the
command of the second subdivision. On the sixth, General Gilly
went to Nimes and sent in his acceptance, whereby the
departments of the Guard, the Lozeira and Ardisha passed under

(12:17):
his authority. Next day, General Gilly received further despatches from
General Ambert, from which he learned that it was the
General's intention, in order to avoid the danger of a
civil war, to separate the Duke Dagulemma's army from the
departments which sympathized with the royal cause. He had therefore
decided to make Pont Saint Esprit a military post, and

(12:39):
had ordered the tenth Regiment of mounted Chasseurs, the thirteenth Artillery,
and a battalion of infantry to move towards this point
by force the marches. These troops were commanded by a
Colonel Saint Laurent. But General Ambert was anxious that if
it could be done without danger, General Gilly should leave Nimes,
taking with him part of the sixty third Regiment and

(13:00):
joining the other forces under the command of Colonel Saint Laurent.
Should assume the chief command, as the city was quite tranquil.
General Gilly did not hesitate to obey this order. He
set out from Nimes on the seventh, passed the night
at Uza, and, finding that town abandoned by the magistrates,
declared it in a state of siege lest disturbances should

(13:20):
arise in the absence of authority. Having placed Monsieur de
Bresson in command, a retired chief of battalion who was
born in Uza and who usually lived there, he continued
his march. On the morning of the eighth, beyond the
village of Conan, General Gilly met and orderly sent to
him by Colonel Saint Laurent to inform him that he,

(13:40):
the colonel, had occupied Pont Saint Esprit, and that the
Duke Dangulema, finding himself thus caught between two fires, had
just sent General Dultana, chief of staff in the Royal Army,
to him to enter into negotiations for a surrender. Upon this,
General Gilly quickened his advance, and, on reaching Ponce sat
a spree, found General d'altana and Colonel Saint Laurent conferring

(14:05):
together at the Hotel de la Poste as Colonel Saint
Laurent had received his instructions directly from the Commander in chief.
Several points relating to the capitulation had already been agreed upon.
Of these, General Gilly slightly altered some and approved of
the others, and the same day the following convention was signed.

(14:25):
Convention concluded between General Gilly and Baron de Damas, s A. R.
Monsigneur le Duc Dangulema, Commander in Chief of the Royal
Army in the South, and Baron de Gilly, General of
Division and Commander in Chief of the First Corps of
the Imperial Army, being most anxiously desirous to prevent any
further effusion of French blood, have given plenary powers to

(14:48):
arrange the terms of a convention to s. A. R.
Monsieur le Baron de Damas, Field Marshal and Under Chief
of Staff, and General de Gilly and Adjutant Lefevre Valier
of the Legion of Honor and Chief of the Staff
of the First Army Corps, who, having shown each other
their respective credentials, have agreed on the following terms. Article one,

(15:11):
the Royal Army is to be disbanded and the National
Guards which are enrolled in it, under whatever name they
may have been levied, will return to their homes after
laying down their arms. Safe conducts will be provided, and
the General of the Vision Commanding in Chief guarantees that
they shall never be molested for anything they may have
said or done in connection with the events preceding the

(15:33):
present convention. The officers will retain their swords. The troops
of the Lion who form part of this army will
repair to such garrisons as may be assigned to them.
Article two. The general officers, superior staff officers and others
of all branches of the service, and the chiefs and
subordinates of the administrative departments, of whose names a list

(15:56):
will be furnished to the General in Chief will retire
to their homes their await the orders of His Majesty
the Emperor. Article three. Officers of every rank who wish
to resign their commissions are competent to do so. They
will receive passports for their homes. Article four. The funds
of the Army and the lists of the Paymasser General

(16:18):
will be handed over at once to commissioners appointed for
that purpose by the Commander in Chief. Article five. The
above articles applied to the corps commanded by Monseigneur la
Duc Dangulemma in person, and also to those who act
separately but under his orders and as forming part of
the Royal Army of the South. Article six. H R.

(16:40):
H will post to seta where the vessels necessary for
him and his suite will be waiting to take him
wherever he may desire. Detachments of the Imperial Army will
be placed at all the relays on the road to
protect His Royal Highness during the journey, and the honors
due to his rank will be everywhere paid him if
he so did desire. Article seven. All the officers and

(17:04):
other persons of His Royal Highness's suite who desire to
follow him will be permitted to do so, and they
may either embark with him at once or later, should
their private affairs need time for arrangement. Article eight. The
present treaty will be kept secret until His Royal Highness
have quitted the limits of the Empire. Executed in duplicate

(17:25):
and agreed upon between the above mentioned plenipotentiaries the eighth
day of April in the year eighteen fifteen, with the
approval of the General Commanding in Chief and signed at
the headquarters at Pontsetesprie on the day and year above
Writtain sign Lefever, Adjutant and Chief of Staff of the
First Corps of the Imperial Army of the South. Signed

(17:48):
Baron de Demas, Field Marshal and under chief of Staff.
The present convention is approved of by the General of
the Vision Commanding in Chief the Imperial Army of the South,
Signed Gilly, or some discussion between General Gilly and General Grausche.
The capitulation was carried into effect only sixteenth April. At
eight o'clock in the morning, the Duke Danguelemma arrived at

(18:11):
Set and went on board the Swedish vessel Scandinavia, which,
taking advantage of a favorable wind, set sail. The same day,
early in the morning of the ninth, an officer of
high rank had been sent to La Palade to issue
safe conducts to the troops, who, according to Article one
of the capitulation, were to return home after laying down

(18:32):
their arms. But during the preceding day and night some
of the royal volunteers had evaded this article by withdrawing
with their arms and baggage as this infraction of the
terms led to serious consequences. We propose, in order to
establish the fact, to cite the depositions of three royal volunteers,
who afterwards gave evidence. On leaving the army of the

(18:55):
Duke Dangulemma. After the capitulation, says Jean Sonier, I went
with my officers and my course to Saint John d'anel.
From there we marched towards Usa. In the middle of
a forest, near a village, the name of which I
have forgotten, our General, Monsieur de Vogue, told us that
we were all to return to our own houses. We
asked him where we should deposit the flag. Just then

(19:18):
Commandant Manya detached it from the staff and put it
in his pocket. We then asked the General where we
should deposit our arms. He replied that we had better
keep them, as we should probably find use for them
before long, and also to take our ammunition with us
to ensure our safety on the road. From that time on,
we all did what we thought best. Sixty four of

(19:39):
us remained together and took a guide to enable us
to avoid Uza. Nicola Marie laborer deposed as follows on
leaving the army of the Duc Dangulema. After the capitulation,
I went with my officers in my corps to Saint
John d'annel. We marched toward USA, but when we were
in the middle of a forest near a village the
name of which I forgot, our General Montsheur de Vague

(20:02):
told us that we were to go to our own
homes as soon as we liked. We saw Commandant Manya
loose the flag from its staff, roll it up and
put it in his pocket. We asked the General what
we were to do with our arms. He replied that
we were to keep both them and our ammunition, as
we should find them of use. Upon this, our chiefs
left us and we all got away as best we could.

(20:25):
After the capitulation of the Duke dangrie Lemma, I found myself,
deposes Paul Lambert Lace, maker of Names, in one of
several detachments under the orders of Commandant Manya and General Vogue,
in the middle of a forest near a village the
name of which I do not know, Monsieur de Vague
and the other officer told us we might go home.
The flag was folded up and Monsieur Mania put it

(20:46):
in his pocket. We asked our chiefs what we were
to do with our arms. Monsieur de Vogue told us
that we had better keep them, as we should need
them before very long, and in any case it would
be well to have them with us on the road
anything should happen to us. The three depositions are too
much alike to leave room for any doubt. The royal
volunteers contravened Article I of the Convention, Being thus abandoned

(21:12):
by their chiefs, without general and without flag. Monsieur de
Vogue's soldiers asked no further counsel of anyone but themselves,
and as one of them has already told us, sixty
four of them joined together to hire a guide, who
was to show them how to get by Uza without
going through it, for they were afraid of meeting with
insult there. The guide brought them as far as Montereme

(21:32):
without anyone opposing their passage or taking notice of their arms. Suddenly,
a coachman named Bertrand, a confidential servant of Abbe Rafin,
former Grand Vicar of Alais and of baroness Arnaud Vermesser
for the abbey administered the estate of Arayak in his
own name and that of the baroness, galloped into the

(21:52):
village of our Pa Yaga, which was almost entirely Protestant
and consequently Napoleonist, announcing that the Nicolette's for after one
hundred and ten years, the old name given to the
royal troops was revived. Were on the way from Monterem,
pillaging houses, murdering magistrates, outraging women, and then throwing them
out of the windows. It is easy to understand the

(22:14):
effect of such a story. The people gathered together in groups,
the mayor and his assistant being absent. Bertrand was taken
before a certain Bulcarut, who, on receiving his report, ordered
the generale to be beaten and the tocsin to be wrung.
Then the consternation became general. The men seized their muskets,
the women and children's stones and pitchforks, and everyone made

(22:37):
ready to face a danger which only existed in the
imagination of Bertrand, for there was not a shadow of
foundation for the story he had told. While the village
was in this state of feverish excitement, the royal volunteers
came in sight. Hardly were they seen than the cry
there they are there they are arose on all sides.
The streets were barricaded with carts. The Tocsin rang out

(22:59):
with red frenzy, and everyone capable of carrying arms rushed
to the entrance of the village. The volunteers, hearing the
uproar and seeing the hostile preparations, halted and to show
that their intentions were peaceful, put their shackles on their
musket stocks and wave them above their heads, shouting that
no one need fear, for they would do no harm

(23:19):
to anyone. But alarmed as they were by the terrible
stories told by Bertrand, the villagers shouted back that they
could not trust to such assurances, and that if they
wanted to pass through the village they must first give
up their weapons. It may easily be imagined that men
who had broken the convention owner to keep their weapons
were not likely to give them up to these villagers.

(23:40):
In fact, they obstinately refused to let them out of
their hands, and by doing so increased the suspicions of
the people. A parley of a very excited character took
place between Monsieur Fournier for the royal Guards and Monsieur Bucarut,
who was chosen spokesmen by the villagers. From words they
came to deeds. The Micolettes tried to force their way through.

(24:03):
Some shots were fired and two Micolettes, Calvais and Fournier, fell.
The others scattered, followed by a lively discharge, and two
more Miicaeletes were slightly wounded. Thereupon they all took to
flight through the fields on either side of the road,
pursued for a short distance by the villagers, but soon
returned to examine the two wounded men, and a report

(24:24):
was drawn up by Antoine Robin, advocate and magistrate of
the Canton of Uza, of the events just related. This
accident was almost the only one of its kind which
happened during the hundred days. The two parties remained face
to face, threatening but self controlled. But let there be
no mistake, there was no peace. They were simply awaiting

(24:44):
a declaration of war. When the calm was broken. It
was from Marseilles that the provocation came. We shall efface
ourselves for a time, and let an eye witness speak, who,
being a Catholic, cannot be suspected of partiality for the Protestants.
I was living in Marseilles at the time of Napoleon's landing,
and I was a witness of the impression which the

(25:05):
news produced upon every one. There was one great cry.
The enthusiasm was universal. The National Guard wanted to join
him to the last man, but Marshal Marsna did not
give his consent until it was too late, for Napoleon
had already reached the mountains, and was moving with such
swiftness that it would have been impossible to overtake him.
Next we heard of his triumphal entry into Lyon, and

(25:28):
of his arrival in Paris. During the night, Marseilles submitted,
like the rest of France. Prince Dessling was recalled to
the capital, and Marshal Brune, who commanded the sixth Corps
of Observation, fixed his headquarters at Marseilles with quite incomprehensible fickleness. Marseilles,
whose name during the Terror had been, as one may say,
the symbol of the most advanced opinions, had become almost

(25:50):
entirely royalist in eighteen fifteen. Nevertheless, its inhabitants saw without
a murmur, the Tricolor flag, after a year's absence, floating
once more above the walls. No arbitrary interference on the
part of the authorities. No threats and no brawling between
the citizens and the soldiers troubled the peace of old Fauchea.
No revolution ever took place with such quietness and facility.

(26:14):
It must, however, be said, then Marshal Bruno was just
the man to accomplish such a transformation without friction. In him,
the frankness and loyalty of an old soldier were combined
with other qualities more solid than brilliant Tacitus in hand.
He looked on at modern revolutions as they passed, and
only interfered when the voice of his country called him

(26:35):
to her defense. The conqueror of Harlem and Baccun had
been for four years forgotten in retirement, or rather in exile,
when the same voice which sent him away recalled him,
and at the summons, Cincinnatus left his plow and grasped
his weapons. Physically, he was at this period a man
of about fifty five, with a frank and open face

(26:56):
framed by large whiskers. His head was bald except for
the grizzled hair at the temples. He was tall and active,
and had a remarkably soldiery bearing. I had been brought
into contact with him by a report which one of
my friends and I had drawn up on the opinions
of the people of the South, and of which he
had asked to have it copy. In a long conversation

(27:17):
with us, he discussed the subject with the impartiality of
a man who brings an open mind to a debate,
and he invited us to come often to see him.
We enjoyed ourselves so much in his society that we
got into the habit of going to his house nearly
every evening. On his arrival in the South, in old calumny,
which had formerly pursued him again made its appearance, quite

(27:40):
rejuvenated by its long sleep. A writer whose name I
have forgotten, in describing the massacres of the second of
September and the death of the unfortunate PRINCESSA de Lambala,
had said, some people thought they recognized in the man
who carried her head impaled on a pike, General Brunna
in disguise. And this accusation, which had been caught up

(28:01):
with eagerness under the consulate, still followed him so relentlessly
in eighteen fifteen that hardly a day passed without his
receiving an anonymous letter threatening him with the same fate
which had overtaken the princess. One evening, while we were
with him, such a letter arrived. In. Having read it,
he passed it on to us. It was as follows, wretch,

(28:22):
we are acquainted with all your crimes, for which you
will soon receive the chastisement you well deserve. It was
you who, during the revolution brought about the death of
the princessa de Lambala. It was you who carried her
head on a pike. But your head will be impaled
on something longer. If you are so rash as to
be present at the review of the allies. It is

(28:43):
all up with you, and your head will be stuck
up on the steeple of the acula. Farewell, scoundrel. We
advised him to trace this calumny to its source, and
then to take signal vengeance on the authors. He paused
an instant to reflect, and then lit the letter at
a candle, and, looking at it thoughtfully as it turned
to ashes in his hand, said vengeance. Yes, Perhaps by

(29:06):
seeking that I could silence the authors of these slanders
and preserve the public tranquility which they constantly in peril,
but I prefer persuasion to severity. My principle is that
it is better to bring men's heads back to a
right way of thinking than to cut them off, and
to be regarded as a weak man rather than as
a bloodthirsty one. The essence of Marshal Bruna's character was

(29:30):
contained in these words. Public tranquility was indeed twice endangered
at Marseilles during the Hundred Days, and both times in
the same manner. The garrison officers used to gather at
a coffee house in the place Necker and sing songs
suggested by passing events. This caused an attack by the townspeople,
who broke the windows by throwing stones, some of which

(29:51):
struck the officers. These rushed out, crying to arms. The
townspeople were not slow to respond, but the commandant ordered
thee again to beat, sent out numerous patrols, and succeeded
in calming the excitement and restoring quietness without any casualties.
The day of the Champ du Mai, orders for a

(30:12):
general illumination were given, and that the tricolor flag should
be displayed from the windows. The greater number of the
inhabitants paid no attention to the desires of the authorities,
and the officers, being annoyed at this neglect, indulged in
reprehensible excesses, which, however, resulted in nothing more serious than
some broken windows belonging to houses which had not illuminated,

(30:34):
and in some of the householders being forced to illuminate
according to order. In Marseilles, as in the rest of France,
people began to despair of the success of the royal cause,
and those who represented this cause, who were very numerous
at Marseilles, gave up annoying the military and seemed to
resign themselves to their fate. Marshal Brunna had left the

(30:56):
city to take up his post on the frontier, without
any of the dangers with which he was threatened having
come across his path. The twenty fifth of June arrived,
and the news of the successes obtained at Fleurus and
at Nigny seemed to justify the hopes of the soldiers.
When in the middle of the day, muttered reports began
to spread in the town, the distant reverberations of the

(31:17):
Cannon of Waterloo, the silence of the leaders, the uneasiness
of the soldiers. The delight of the royalists foretold the
outbreak of a news struggle, the results of which it
was easy to anticipate. About four o'clock in the afternoon,
a man, who had probably got earlier information than his
fellow townspeople, tore off his tri colored cockade and trampled

(31:37):
it under foot, crying long Live the King. The angry
soldiers seized him and were about to drag him to
the guard house, but the National guards prevented them, and
their interference led to a fight. Shouts were heard on
all sides, A large ring was formed round the soldiers.
A few musket shots heard, others answered. Three or four
men fell and lay there weltering in their blood. Out

(32:00):
of this confused uproar, the word Waterloo emerged distinct, and
with this unfamiliar name pronounced for the first time in
the resounding voice of history, the news of the defeat
of the French army and the triumph of the Allies
spread apace. Then General Verdier, who held the chief command
in the absence of Marshal Brunne, tried to harangue the people,

(32:21):
but his voice was drowned by the shouts of the
mob who had gathered round a coffee house where stood
a bust of the Emperor, which they insisted should be
given up to them. Verdier, hoping the calm what he
took to be a simple street row, gave orders that
the busts should be brought out, and this concession, so
significant on the part of a general commanding in the

(32:41):
emperor's name, convinced the crowd that his cause was lost.
The fury of the populace grew greater now that they
felt that they could indulge it with impunity. They ran
to the town hall, and, tearing down and burning the
try colored, raised the white flag. The role of the generale,
the clang of the tocsin heard. The neighboring villages poured

(33:02):
in their populations and increased the throng in the streets.
Single acts of violence began to occur. Wholesale massacres were approaching.
I had arrived in the town with my friend Monsieur
the very beginning of the tumult, so we had seen
the dangerous agitation and excitement grow under our eyes, but
we were still ignorant of its true cause. When in

(33:22):
the Rue de Noaila we met an acquaintance, who, although
his political opinions did not coincide with ours, had always
shown himself very friendly to us. Well, I said, what
news good for me and bad for you? He answered,
I advise you to go away. At once surprised and
somewhat alarmed at these words, we begged him to explain. Listen,

(33:43):
said he, there are going to be riots in the town.
It is well known that you used to go to
Bruno's nearly every evening, and that you are, in consequence
no favorite with your neighbors. Seek safety in the country.
I addressed some further question to him, but turning his
back to me, he left me without another word. Malcheur

(34:03):
and I were still looking at each other in stupefaction
when the increasing uproar roused us to a sense that
if we desired to follow the advice just given, we
had not a moment to lose. We hastened to my house,
which was situated in the Alas de Mayon. My wife
was just going out, but I stopped her. We are
not safe here, I said. We must get away into

(34:24):
the country. But where can we go? Wherever luck takes us?
Let us start. She was going to put on her bonnet,
but I told her to leave it behind, for it
was most important that no one should think we suspected anything,
but were merely going for a stroll. This precaution saved us,
for we learned the next day that if our intention

(34:46):
to fly had been suspected, we should have been stopped.
We walked at random, while behind us we heard musket
shots from every part of the town. We met a
company of soldiers who were hurrying to the relief of
their comrades, but heard later that they had not been
a to pass the gate. We recollected an old officer
of our acquaintance who had quitted the service then withdrawn
from the world some years before, and had taken a

(35:08):
place in the country near the village of Saint just.
We directed our course toward his house. Captain said I
to him, they are murdering each other in the town.
We are pursued and without asylum, so we come to you.
That's right, my children, said he Come in and welcome.
I have never meddled with political affairs, and no one
can have anything against me. No one will think of

(35:30):
looking for you here. The captain had friends in the
town who, one after another reached his house and brought
us news of all that went on during that dreadful day.
Many soldiers had been killed, and the mameluke had been annihilated.
A negress who had been in the service of these
unfortunates had been taken on the quay. Cry Long live

(35:51):
the King, shouted the mob. No, she replied to Napoleon,
I owe my daily bread. Long Live Napoleon. A bayonet
thrust in the abdomen was the answer, villains said. She
covering the wound with her hand to keep back the
protruding entrails. Long Live Napoleon. A push sent her into
the water. She sank, but rose again to the surface,

(36:14):
and waving her hand, she cried for the last time,
long Live Napoleon. A bullet shot, putting an end to
her life. Several of the townspeople had met with shocking deaths.
For instance, Monsieur Anglas, a neighbor of mine, an old
man and no inconsiderable scholar, having, unfortunately, when at the
palace some days before, given utterance before witnesses to the

(36:36):
sentiment that Napoleon was a great man, learned that for
his crime he was about to be arrested. Yielding to
the prayers of his family. He disguised himself, and getting
into a wagon, set off to seek safety in the country.
He was, however, recognized and brought a prisoner to the
place du Chapita, where after being buffeted about and insulted

(36:57):
for an hour by the populace, he was at last murdered.
It may easily be imagined that although no one came
to disturb us, we did not sleep much that night.
The ladies rested on sofas or in arm chairs without undressing,
while our host, Monchieur, and myself took turns in guarding
the door a gun in hand. As soon as it

(37:18):
was light, we consulted what course we should take. I
was of the opinion that we ought to try to
reach Eye by unfrequented paths. Having friends there, we should
be able to procure a carriage and get to Names
where my family lived. But my wife did not agree
with me. I must go back to town for our things,
said she. We have no clothes but those on our backs.

(37:39):
Let us send to the village to ask if Marseilles
is quieter today than yesterday. So we sent off a messenger.
The news he brought back was favorable. Order was completely restored.
I could not quite believe this, and still refuse to
let my wife return to the town unless I accompanied her.
But in that everyone was against me. My presence would
give rise to dangers which without me had no existence.

(38:03):
Where were the miscreants cowardly enough to murder a woman
of eighteen who belonged to no party and had never
injured anyone? As for me, my opinions were well known. Moreover,
my mother in law offered to accompany her daughter, and
both joined in persuading me that there was no danger.
At last, I was forced to consent, but only on

(38:23):
one condition. I cannot say, I observed whether there is
any foundation for the reassuring tidings we have heard. But
of one thing, you may be sure. It is now
seven o'clock in the morning. You can get to Marseilles
in an hour, pack your trunks in another hour, and
return in a third. Let us allow one hour more
for unforeseen delays. If you are not back by eleven o'clock,

(38:46):
I shall believe something has happened and take steps accordingly.
Very well, said my wife. If I am not back
by then you may think me dead and do whatever
you think best. And so she and her mother left me.
Hour later, quite different news came to hand. Fugitives seeking,
like ourselves, safety in the country told us that the rioting,

(39:07):
far from ceasing, had increased, the streets were encumbered with corpses,
and two people had been murdered with unheard of cruelty.
An old man named Bessierus, who had led a simple
and blameless life, and whose only crime was that he
had served under the Usurper, anticipating that under existing circumstances
this would be regarded as a capital crime, made his will,

(39:28):
which was afterwards found among his papers. It began with
the following words, as it is possible that during this revolution,
I may meet my death as a partisan of Napoleon,
although I have never loved him, I give and bequeath,
et cetera, et cetera. The day before, his brother in law,
knowing he had private enemies, had come to the house

(39:48):
and spent the night trying to induce him to flee,
but all in vain. But the next morning, his house
being attacked, he yielded and tried to escape by the
back door. He was stopped by some of the National
Guards and placed himself under their protection. They took him
to the Core Saint Louis, where, being hustled by the
crowd and very ineffectually defended by the guards, he tried

(40:10):
to enter the Cafe Merchantier, but the door was shut
in his face. Being broken by fatigue, breathless and covered
with dust and sweat, he threw himself on one of
the benches placed against the wall outside the house. Here
he was wounded by a musket bullet, but not killed.
At the sight of his blood, shrieks of joy were heard,
and then a young man with a pistol in each hand,

(40:32):
forced his way through the throng and killed the old
man by two shots fired point blank in the face. Another,
still more atrocious murder took place in the course of
the same morning. A father and son, bound back to back,
were delivered over to the tender mercies of the mob,
stoned and beaten and covered with each other's blood. For

(40:52):
two long hours, their death agony endured, and all the
while those who could not get near enough to strike
were dancing round them. Our time passed listening to such stories.
Suddenly I saw a friend running towards the house. I
went to meet him. He was so pale that I
hardly dared to question him. He came from the city

(41:12):
and had been at my house to see what had
become of me. There was no one in it, but
across the door lay two corpses wrapped in a blood
stained sheet, which he had not dared to lift. Had
these terrible words, nothing could hold me back. I set
off for Marseilles. Monsieur, who would not consent to let
me return alone, accompanied me, and passing through the village

(41:35):
of Saint just we encountered a crowd of armed peasants
in the main street, who appeared to belong to the
Free companies. Although this circumstance was rather alarming, it would
have been dangerous to turn back, so we continued our
way as if we were not in the least uneasy.
They examined our bearing and our dress narrowly, and then
exchanged some sentences in a low voice of which we
only caught the words Austannie. This was the name by

(41:58):
which the bonapartis called by the peasants, and means eaters
of chestnuts, this article of food being brought from Corsica
to France. However, we were not molested in any way,
for as we were going towards the city. They did
not think we could be fugitives. A hundred yards beyond
the village, we came up with a crowd of peasants
who were like us on the way to Marseilles. It

(42:20):
was plain to see that they had just been pillaging
some country house, for they were laden with rich stuffs,
chandeliers and jewels. They proved to be that of Monsieur
ar inspector of reviews. Several carried muskets. I pointed out
to my companion a stain of blood on the trousers
of one of the men, who began to laugh when
he saw what we were looking at. Two hundred yards

(42:43):
outside the city, I met a woman who had formerly
been a servant in my house. She was very much
astonished to see me and said go away at once.
The massacre is horrible, much worse than yesterday. But my wife,
I cried, do you know anything about her? No, sir,
she replied. I was going to knock at the door,
But some people asked me in a threatening manner, if

(43:05):
I could tell them where the friend of that rascal
Bruno was, as they were going to take away his
appetite for bread. So take my advice, she continued, and
go back to where you came from. This advice was
the last I could make up my mind to follow.
So we went on, but found a strong guard at
the gate and saw that it would be impossible to
get through without being recognized. At the same time, the

(43:28):
cries and the reports of firearms from within were coming nearer.
It would therefore have been to court certain death to advance,
so we retraced our steps. In passing again through the
village of Saint just we met once more our armed peasants,
but this time they burst out into threats on seeing us,
shouting let us kill them, let us kill them. Instead

(43:49):
of running away, we approached them, assuring them that we
were royalists. Our coolness was so convincing that we got
through safe and sound. On getting back to the captains,
I threw myself on a sofa, quite overcome by the
thought that only that morning my wife had been beside
me under my protection, and that I had let her
go back to the town to a cruel, an inevitable death.

(44:10):
I felt as if my heart would break, and nothing
that our host and my friend could say gave me
the slightest comfort. I was like a madman, unconscious of
everything around me. Moncheur went out to try to pick
up some news, but in an instant we heard him
running back, and he dashed into the room, calling out,
they are coming, there, they are, Who are coming? We

(44:32):
asked the assassins. My first feeling, I confess, was one
of joy. I pounced upon a pair of double barreled pistols,
resolved not to let myself be slaughtered like a sheep.
Through the window I could see some men climbing over
the wall and getting down into the garden. We had
just sufficient time to escape by a back staircase, which
led to a door through which we passed, shutting it

(44:55):
behind us. We found ourselves on a road at the
other side of which was a vineyard. We crossed the
road and crept under the vines, which completely concealed us.
As we learned later, the captain's house had been denounced
as a Bonaparte's nest, and the assassins had hoped to
take it by surprise, and indeed, if they had come
a little sooner, we had been lost. For before we

(45:15):
had been five minutes in our hiding place, the murderers
rushed out on the road, looking for us in every direction,
without the slightest suspicion that we were not six yards distant.
Though they did not see us, I could see them,
and I held my pistols ready cocked, quite determined to
kill the first who came near. However, in a short
time they went away. End of Chapter seven, Section one

(45:42):
reading by John vanstan Savannah, Georgia,