Poor wretches who had gotten themselves dragged thither from the hospitals, in which they feared to remain, were lying in every ditch, and under every wall, filling the air with their groans.
Everything was in confusion; no staff existed competent to arrange their affairs, and to husband the poor means at their disposal.

Food was wasted by some, while hundreds were starving.

Some houses in the town were nearly empty, while others were crowded almost to suffocation.
There was very much to be done, yet every one was idle.
The great work to be accomplished was to transport the Vendean multitude over to the other side of the Loire.

It had been at first feared by some that the men of Brittany would be unwilling to receive the beaten royalist army, flying from the bloody vengeance of the republicans, but their neighbours did not prove so unhospitable.

A thousand welcomes were sent over to them, and many a happy messenger of good tidings came, assuring Henri that the people of Poitou should find arms, food, clothing, and shelter on the other side of the water.
Henri sat himself to work in earnest.