Charette had marched to the aid of the Vendeans of the north, and the country was divided into four districts, commanded by Charette, Bonchamp, Lescure, and la Rochejaquelein.

Each of these strove to defend his own district.
The war now assumed a terrible aspect.

Maddened by the atrocities perpetrated upon them, the peasants no longer gave quarter to those who fell into their hands and, in their despair, performed prodigies of valour.

They had not now, as at the commencement of the war the superiority in numbers.

Instead of fighting generally four to one against the Blues, the latter now exceeded them in the same proportion.
But the peasants had changed their tactics.