Almost all the towns were in the possession of the Blues.

It seemed to them that the struggle could not be much longer maintained.
The young count was too energetic and too enthusiastic to be seriously moved, and rode back to the residence of an aunt, at Saint Aubin.

There he learned that Aubiers had been taken by the enemy.

The peasantry around were in a state of extreme excitement.
They had hoisted the white flag on their churches, and were ready to fight, but they had no leader.
Hearing that Rochejaquelein was at his aunt's house, they came to him, and begged him to take the command, promising him that in twenty-four hours ten thousand men should be ready to follow him.
He agreed to the request.

The church bells were set ringing and, before morning, almost that number were assembled.