He was almost the only one amongst the ancient general officers who had not emigrated.

Surrounded by a brilliant staff of young officers of the party of La Fayette, Charles Lameth, du Jarri, Mathieu de Montmorency, he believed he had the opinions which they instilled into him.

The king caressed, the Assembly flattered, the army respected, him.

The nation saw in him the mysterious genius of the old war coming to give lessons of victory to the untried patriotism of the Revolution, and concealing its infinite resources under the bluntness of his exterior, and the obscure Germanism of his language.

They addressed to him, from all sides, homage as though he were an unknown God.