Charles Melchior Artus de Bonchamps

Charles Melchior Artus de Bonchamps , born in 1760 with Juvardeil in Anjou, dead the October 18th 1793. He was a French politician, wire of Anne-Artus, Marquis de Bonchamps, ordering Vendean armies during the insurrection of the royalists against the République during the French revolution.

Biography

He was used with distinction in the war as America. He was captain with the Régiment of Aquitaine, when the French revolution, that he disapproved, made him leave this place. He withdrew himself in a castle close to Saint-Florent; it is there that the insurrectionists of the the Vendée sought it to put it at their head.

Careful and skilful general, it beat the republican troops sometimes; but his/her colleagues often showed it indecision and of tepidity. It was selected in 1793 with Maurice-Louis-Joseph Gigot of Elbée as general of the catholic and royal Armée with the Vendée. It obtained initially some successes in Anjou, and contributed to the catch of Bressuire and Thouars

The September 17th 1793, the Armed with the low Vendée, ordered by Cart and Bonchamps, arranged battles on the edge of the main road of Tiffauges to Cholet, dealing with Torfou, was attacked about it by the Républicain S under the orders of Kléber.

Kléber, already seriously wounded and feeling more and more pressed by the Vendean ones, arrived at the bridge of Boussay, made there place two parts of gun. After this failure, the general-in-chief Canclaux ordered to the general Beysser to go on Boussay. Cart and Bonchamps solved to attack it. They united with Montaigu, and there, following a combat where the republican general, reached of a Biscaïen, passed for dead during a few moments, its column was put in a complete disorder and flees, highly continued until Aigrefeuille.

De Montaigu, Cart went on Saint-Fulgent, where it beat the Republicans again, took to them 22 guns, their luggage and of many ammunition. The following day, 22, Bonchamps and of Elbée attacked close to Clisson the Canclaux general. Already Bonchamps had seized the carriages, the ambulances and part of republican artillery; but Cart did not come to go, and the Vendean ones were overcome in their turn.

The September 30th, Kléber, placed under the orders of Canclaux, met, with two miles of Montaigu, the outposts of Bonchamps and Elbée. These generals were camped on this side with 40 thousand men and a many artillery. Kléber gave the signal of the attack. After two hours a keen fight, the Vendean ones, disturbed by the impetuosity of a load to the bayonet, broke and were put in rout.

With the combat of Saint-Christophe-of-Ligneron the and the Aspen plantation, the Vendean ones, ordered by Bonchamps, of Elbée, Lescure and Rochejaquelein, are still beaten after a bloody fight. Lescure was mortally wounded.

With the Battle of Cholet which took place on October 17th, 1793, twenty-four thousand Republicans fought against forty thousand Vendean discouraged, very badly armed and even more badly disciplined. There were few battles where the masses were entrechoquées with as much fury. The Vendean ones had the advantage a long time. It was the young general Marceau who decided the victory to line up on his side. The loss of the insurrectionists was evaluated with 10.000 killed men. D' Elbée was wounded there seriously and Bonchamps mortally. This last, carried with Saint-Florent, expired there the following day. The loss of the Republicans was considerable, especially as officers.

Bonchamps, died during the passage of the Loire, had been buried on the beach of Varades. Mr. of Barante, writer of the Memories of Madam of Rochejacquelein , claims that a few days after the republicans exhumed it to slice the head to him, and to send it to the Convention.

Among the 5000 republican soldiers, whose Bonchamps and Lescure obtained the grace on October 18th to Saint-Florent-the-Old, was the father of the artist David of Angers. This last set up celebrates it statue of the " Forgiveness of Bonchamps" that one can see the original with Saint-Florent-the-Old and a copy with the David gallery from Angers… in Angers.

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