Public Service Announcement: Can someone please tell General Kleber that he will have infinitely fewer issues in the Vendee if he throws squirrels at La Rochejaquelein?
Yes... I'm knee-deep in Royalist/Catholic propaganda, reading the Memories of the Marquise de La Rochejaquelein (MΓ©moires de Mme la marquise de La Rochejaquelein Γ©crits par elle-mΓͺme). Every book I've seen about the war in the VendΓ©e references it, so I reckoned I should probably read it myself. It's quite interesting but obviously biased. She gives a pretty detailed and sympathetic perspective of the VendΓ©ean side.
This is a true story. Apparently, Henri de La Rochejaquelein (baby generalissimo extraordinaire who, antiquated views aside, seems like a pretty cool guy and is very good at his job for a 21-year-old) had an irrational fear of squirrels. Yes. Squirrels.
Now I have this entire alternate reality headcanon of the CPS back in Paris training squirrels to send to the Army of the West....