First Battle of Châtillon

The First Battle of Châtillon (5 July 1793) during the War in the Vendée saw the Vendean Royalists defeat a French Republican raiding force led by François-Joseph Westermann. The rebel Catholic and Royal Army virtually destroyed the Republican column, only Westermann and a few hundred cavalrymen escaped the disaster. The Vendée revolt was a bitter civil war waged between those who supported the French Revolution and rural farmers who resented the new government's anti-Catholic laws and conscription decrees.

First Battle of Châtillon
Part of the War in the Vendée
Date 5 July 1793 Location Châtillon Result Vendéen victory
Belligerents
First French Republic	Vendéens
Commanders and leaders
François-Joseph Westermann	Henri de La Rochejaquelein Jean-Nicolas Stofflet Louis Marie de Lescure Charles de Bonchamps Gaspard de Marigny
Units involved
Army of the Coasts of La Rochelle	Catholic and Royal Army
Strength
6,500 men 8 cannons	25,000 men
Casualties and losses
2,000 killed 3,000 prisoners (of which 2,000 wounded)	approximately 2,000 deaths, unknown injuries

Prelude

General Westermann had managed to reach the heart of the Vendée capturing Châtillon. Most of the Royalist army had been pushed back during the Battle of Nantes, and their leading general Jacques Cathelineau was severely wounded. Nonetheless, determined to confront the Republican raiders, the leaders of the Vendéen troops, Charles de Bonchamps, Nicolas Stofflet and Gaspard de Bernard de Marigny regrouped their forces at Cholet. The Royalist army, would later through several battles and different wars get to be known for their use of white uniforms. Signaling their loyalty to the Bourbon House, and crown. Prior to advancing into Châtillon for battle the next morning, the Royalist army further increased its strength by joining together with the Royalist armies of Henri de La Rochejaquelein and Louis Marie de Lescure.

The battle

At 10 in the morning, the cannon of Marie-Jeanne gave the signal of the attack. After having approached silently, a first column of Vendéens led by Bonchamps, Lescure and La Rochejaquelein attacked the republicans on the Western plateau of Château-Gaillard. Taken by surprise and frightened by the shouts and the number of their enemies, the republicans fled and ran in disorder down the steep plateau. While pulling back to Châtillon, they fell on the second column of Vendéens, led by Stofflet and Marigny, and soon the battle spread into the town. The general Westerman didn't have time to organize his troops, he took his horse and joined the cavalry, fleeing towards Bressuire.

Some republican soldiers gave themselves up but the fires they had started pushed the Vendéens' will for vengeance and some were massacred. Some officers, like Marigny who killed a few prisoners with his own hands, even encouraged the massacres. Others like Lescure tried to stop them and approximately 1,000 prisoners were saved.

Consequences

Among the over 6,000 men, 2,000 republican soldiers were killed in combat or massacred, 3,000 others were made prisoners, and the entire artillery was lost. Only Westermann and 500 cavalry men had managed to escape, but they were attacked by Vendéens in their way home to Parthenay, where he only brought back 300 men.

The expedition of Westermann had started well but finished in disaster. Westermann was called to Paris by the National Convention, who sent him to Niort where he was trialed in front of the war counsel. He was acquitted, only barely escaping the guillotine.