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.
"Come friends, let us follow 'le Mouchoir Rouge;' he never meant, I am sure, to leave us here," said the spokesman of one party.
"The Saint of Angers is on before us," said the others; "he would let no man see the enemy before himself.

The good Cathelineau is gone to Saumur, let us follow him!" In this way they soon learnt to believe that both Cathelineau and Larochejaquelin were on before them, and they were not long in hurrying after them.

Within twenty minutes, about six thousand men started off without a leader or any defined object, to besiege the walls of Saumur; they did not even know that a vast entrenched encampment of the enemy's troops lay directly in their way.

The men had, most of them, muskets with three or four rounds of powder and ball each; many of them also had bayonets.