After settling in Dracut,—­and in his best days he lived in excellent style for the times, kept a span of fine horses, rode in a sulky, and “lived like a nabob,”—­he always received a pension from the government; but his habits were such that he never acquired a fortune, but spent his money freely and enjoyed it as he went along.

Before he came to America he had traveled in different countries.  On one occasion, in Italy, he was waylaid and robbed of all he had, and narrowly escaped with his life.  He had been playing and had been very successful, winning money, gold watches, and diamonds.  As he was riding back to his hotel his postilion was shot.  He immediately seized his pistols to defend himself, when he was struck on the back of the head with a bludgeon and rendered insensible.  He did not return to consciousness until the next morning, when he found himself by the side of the road, bleeding from a terrible wound in his side from a dirk-knife.  He had strength to attract the attention of a man passing with a team, and was taken to his hotel.  A surgeon was called, who pronounced the wound mortal.  Mr. Ansart objected to that view of the case, and sent for another, and with skilful treatment he finally recovered.

It is said that he was a splendid swordsman.  On a certain occasion he was insulted, and challenged his foe to step out and defend himself with his sword.  His opponent declined, saying he never fought with girls, meaning that Mr. Ansart was delicate, with soft, white hands and fair complexion, and no match for him, whereupon the young Frenchman drew his sword to give him a taste of his quality.  He flourished it around his opponent’s head, occasionally stratching his face and hands, until he was covered with wounds and blood, but he could not provoke him to draw his weapon and defend himself.  After complimenting him with the name of “coward,” he told him to go about his business, advising him in future to be more careful of his conduct and less boastful of his courage.

During the inquisition in France, Colonel Ansart said that prisoners were sometimes executed in the presence of large audiences, in a sort of amphitheatre.  People of means had boxes, as in our theatres of the present day.  Colonel Ansart occupied one of these boxes on one occasion with his lady.  Before the performance began, another gentleman with his lady presented himself in Colonel Ansart’s box, and requested him to vacate.  He was told that he was rather presuming in his conduct and had better go where he belonged.  The man insisted upon crowding himself in, and was very insolent, when Colonel Ansart seized him and threw him over the front, when, of course, he went tumbling down among the audience below.  Colonel Ansart was for this act afterward arrested and imprisoned for a short time, but was finally liberated without trial.

History informs us that a combined attack by D’Estaing and General Sullivan was planned, in 1778, for the expulsion of the British from Rhode Island, where, under General Pigot, they had established a military depot.  Colonel Ansart was aide-de-camp to General Sullivan in this expedition, and was wounded in the engagement of August 29.