Battle of Tiffauges

Bataille de Torfou-Tiffauges
	Part of the Torfou
Result	Vendéen victory

Belligerents

Republicans

Vendéens

Commanders and leaders Jean-Baptiste de Canclaux
Jean-Baptiste Kléber

François de Charette

Strength 6,000 men 20,000 menCasualties and losses 1,000 dead 600 dead

The battle of Torfou-Tiffauges was a battle on 19 September 1793 during the War in the Vendée. It pitted many Royalist military leaders against Republican troops under Jean-Baptiste Kléber and Canclaux.

Course

15,000 men, detached as the

Torfou, on the northern borders of Tiffauges

.

The following day, at 9 am, fire was exchanged for the first time. Kléber launched one battalion to the right of Torfou and one to its left, attempting to encircle the town. The Vendéens under Charette coming towards them were discovered, fired on and forced into retreat. However, the women in the rear blocked the fleeing troops and convinced them to regroup and fight on the plateau where the Republicans were advancing.

François Henri d'Elbée de La Sablonière entered the line and

Bonchamps

tried to outflank the Republican left. Engulfed in Royalist troops, Kléber advanced four cannons but was shot in the shoulder before realising his centre had collapsed.

Consequences

The Royalists decided to profit from the victory by pursuing the enemy and attacked

Beysser was defeated. On 2 September, the Royalist leaders decided they must support Bonchamps and his attack on Kléber. However, Charette and Lescure decided to march on Saint-Fulgent, where the Republican army had arrived. This disobedience had one immediate result – on his return to Montaigu, Charette learned that Kléber had escaped to Bonchamps. He grouped his army and returned to Legé

.

External links

Torfou-Tiffauges

47°02′18″N 1°06′53″W / 47.0383°N 1.1147°W / 47.0383; -1.1147