Early on the following morning the whole army, with the exception of the men left with Foret, defiled out of Doue, and crossed over to the Montreuil road, dragging with them their cannons, baggage-waggons, and ammunition; their movements were not made with very great order, nor with much celerity; but, about six o’clock in the evening, on the 10th of June, Cathelineau took up his position about a league from Saumur.  They got possession of one or two farm-houses, and were not long in making their arrangements for the night; the men were accustomed to sleep out in the open air since the war commenced, and were well content to remain in clusters round the cannons and the waggons.

At eight o’clock, Larochejaquelin had his little troop of cavalry ready mounted, and started with them for the camp of Varin.  As he and his companions dashed along through the waggons and by the cannons the peasants who were preparing to lay down for the night, and who knew nothing of the plans of their Generals, rose up one after another wondering.

“There goes ‘le Mouchoir Rouge,’” said one, alluding to Henri’s costume; for when in action he always wore a red handkerchief round his waist, and another round his neck.

“Yes; that is ‘le Mouchoir Rouge,’” said another, “he is off for Saumur; the horsemen are already starting for Saumur.”

“Come, then; they shall not go alone,” said another.  “We will start for Saumur.  We will not lie here while others are in the battle.”

These were men from the neighbourhood of Durbelliere, who were now placed under the orders of M. de Lescure; but who conceived that, as their lord and master was gone before them, it must be their duty to follow.  The word was passed from one to another, and the whole body of them was soon in motion.  It must be remembered that they were, in no respect, similar to disciplined troops; they had received no military instruction, and did not therefore, know, that they were doing wrong in following their own master; they were in receipt of no pay; amenable to no authority, and consequently afraid of no penalties; their only idea was to do the best they could for the cause, to fight with courage and perseverance, and to trust to God for the result:  it was not, therefore, wondering that, in the present instance, they so completely mistook their duty.

Cathelineau’s men, who were intended to form the centre of the attack on the next morning, were placed just to the right of the road, but their baggage and cannons had not been moved from it; in fact, they were nearly mixed with M. de Lescure’s men; whereas M. d’Elbee’s portion of the army was removed a good deal further to the right, and was placed immediately on the banks of the river Thoue.  The camp at Varin, which was to be attacked, was situated between the river and the road to Saumur.  In Cathelineau’s division there were some few who understood the plan which had been decided on, and some others who knew that they should not move without orders, and they did what they could to prevent their companions from joining the rush made by M. de Lescure’s party; but their efforts were nearly in vain.  Every man learnt in the confusion that the attack was to be made on Saumur that night, and no man wished to be left behind.