Then they continued their retreat, and took up a strong position near the town of Angers, which was crowded with fugitives.
L'Echelle came out to review the troops who, by the orders of their generals, had already formed in order of battle; but was received with such yells of hatred and contempt that he was forced to retire.

The representatives of the convention offered Kleber the command of the army, but he refused, saying that Chalbos was of superior rank, and that it was he who should take the command.

They agreed to this, and sent to l'Echelle, telling him to demand leave of absence, on account of his health.
A council of war was then held.

The representatives of the Convention were favourable to a fresh advance of the army, but Kleber protested that, at present, there was no army.

He said that the soldiers were utterly discouraged, that some battalions had but twenty or thirty men with the colours, that all were wet to the skin, utterly exhausted, many without shoes, and all dispirited.
Therefore he insisted that it was absolutely necessary that the army should be completely reorganized, before undertaking a fresh forward movement.
Their loss had indeed been extremely heavy, Kleber's division alone having lost over a thousand men.