He himself, for the most part, walked on foot; lending his horse to some wounded man, or exhausted woman.
When the column left Angers it had been intended to march to Saumur and cross there, but the news arrived that a strong Republican force had gathered there; and it was determined to change the course, and to march through La Fleche to Le Mans.

By this sudden and unexpected movement, Rochejaquelein hoped to gain time to give his followers two days' rest.
The immediate result, however, was to excite a feeling of despair among a great portion of them.

Their backs were now turned to La Vendee, and it seemed to them that their last hope of reaching their homes had vanished.

Rochejaquelein's idea, however, was that in their present state of exhaustion it was impossible to hope to cross the Loire--guarded as it was at every point, and with over one hundred thousand men between him and La Vendee--and he intended, after giving them the much needed rest, to march round through Chateaudun, to come down on the Loire above Orleans, and so to make his way back into Poitou.
Had he had with him only men, the project, difficult as it seemed, might possibly have been accomplished.

Unembarrassed by baggage trains or cannon, the peasants could have out marched their pursuers; but hampered by the crowd of wounded, sick, women, and children, the movement must be regarded as the inspiration of despair.
Indeed, even the fighting men were no longer in a state to bear the fatigue.