"Le Jeune Darrudder", 1793. Engraving by Charles-Melchior Descourtis after Joseph Swebach Desfontaines
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8412228q?rk=42918;4
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8412228q?rk=42918;4
"The action of the young Darrudder, aged 14, is a example of bravery and a display of filial piety. During the affair of Fougere [sic], he saw his father killed at his side, snatched his pistol from his belt, fired on the murderer, blew his brains out, then continued to beat the charge against the brigands until they were completely routed. This worthy follower of Vialas and Baras is offered as a model to the pupils of the École de Mars, by the Representatives of the People who admitted him to this school and bestowed on him a fraternal accolade in the midst of applause and great shows of joy."
As Jean-Clément Martin has remarked, without this fine engraving after the artist Joseph Swebach Desfontaines, the existence of "the Young Darrudder" (more properly "Derudder"), like that of so many who fought in the Vendée, would now be entirely forgotten. His fate is also sometimes briefly recalled due to the warm response he elicited from Robespierre, which prefigured the latter's much more decisive intervention on behalf of Joseph Bara (see my previous post of 01/02/2023).
A 14-year-old hero
On 17th June 1793 an adolescent presented himself at the bar of the Convention with his mother to hear a petition read on his behalf. He was introduced as Citizen Jean-Dominique Derudder, aged 14, drummer in the 35th Division of the National Gendarmerie. The fiercely patriotic 35th was reserved for veterans of the storming of the Bastille: we learn that the boy's father had been both a Vainqueur de la Bastille and a participant in the attack on the Tuileries on 10th August.
The petition related how the youth had avenged his father's death during an action against the Vendean rebels at La Fougereuse on 1st June. After shedding a "torrent of tears" over his father's corpse, he had showed his patriotic courage by reassuming his position at the head of his detachment and beating the pas-de-charge until the enemy was completely defeated.
On the proposal of Legendre, the Convention formerly "adopted" the young man who had effectively been orphaned through the loss of his father. Robespierre demanded compensation for both mother and child, and Derudder was formally "embraced by the president". A provisional sum of a thousand livres was voted to the family; and a pension awarded, pending formal approval by the relevant financial body, the Comité de Liquidation.
The 35th Division of Gendarmerie
The famous 35th Division, drawn from veterans of the Bastille, had been formed in Autumn 1792, under the command of Rossignol. At its full strength, it consisted of eight companies (two battalions, plus two companies of artillery).
By chance, the original certificate of "Vainqueur de la Bastille" issued to the boy's father, Jean-Dominique Derudder, has survived. It was sold by Osenat in December 2019:
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The young Derudder, though only 14, seems to have had the status of an enlisted soldier: certainly, he was formally introduced as "drummer of the 3rd Company of the 35th Division of the National Gendarmerie". This seems surprising, given his age, but perhaps the volunteer forces did not insist too much on age limits, especially for young boys who served alongside their fathers.
The action at La Fougereuse
In 1793 the 35th was sent with Santerre to reinforce the troops in the Vendée. In May/June it was at Thouars under the orders of General Salomon.
On Saturday 1st June 1793, the Salomon profited from the dispersal of the Vendean army after its victory at Fontenay to make an attack on La Fougereuse (Saint-Maurice-la-Fougereuse), a commune 30 kilometres west of Thouars which was in enemy hands. It was during this action that Derudder père was killed. According to Royalist sources, the Republicans were at first beaten back and lost many men and cannons: the Royalist general, Jaudonnet de Laugrenière, who had been forewarned of the attack, ambushed them in open ground, killing several officers and a colonel. An exchange of fire ensued. Soloman's men then rallied and swept across the terrain, the young Derudder presumably beating the charge. Laugrenière, who had very few troops at his disposal, eventually withdraw, though without serious loss; he personally suffered nothing worse than a powder-burn to his cheek.
The Republicans could now claim victory: Laugrenière's headquarters was successfully penetrated and his correspondence seized by "the gunners of the 35th Division of Gendarmerie commanded by the brave Rossignol" (see La Maraîchine Normande, post of 15.01.2019). In the Autumn General Grignon set fire to La Fougereuse and totally destroyed it.
The volunteers of the 35th were not destined to enjoy their success for long. On 8th June Salomon, advancing from Thouars to the relief of Saumur, was intercepted and defeated by La Rochejaquelein at Montreuil-Bellay. The engagement resulted in heavy Republican losses and the retreat of the 35th in disarray to Thouars.
A year later, in June 1794, the Convention decreed the union of the 35th with the 33th to form the new 32th Division of Gendarmerie.
Derudder and the École de Mars
An interesting postscript to Derudder's story is provided by his enrolment in June 1794 in the newly formed French military academy, the École de Mars. An order of the Committee of Public Safety, dated 6th June 1794 and signed by Barère, Carnot and Billaud-Varenne, instructs the Agent of the Commune, Payen, to include Derruder in the Commune's quota of pupils, even though he is still technically under age.
Recueil des actes du Comité de salut public, Vol. 14, p.175.
A report in the Moniteur, dated 22 Messidor, informs us that, on the occasion of his admission, the "worthy successor of Bara and Viala" was awarded a fraternal accolade by the school's directors, Jean-Pascal Peyssard and Philippe Le Bas. The event was accompanied by much display of patriotic emotion.
According to 19th-century historian of the École, Arthur Chuquet, Derudder subsequently served as drummer in the Battalion of Grenadiers of the National Representation, later to form the basis of the Imperial Guard.
References
Didier Davin et de Laurent B., "35e division de gendarmerie à pied ou des vainqueurs de la Bastille", in Les armées de ligne de la Révolution: Un project de SEHRI
"La Fougereuse", Chemins secret [blog], post of 6.11.2017.
"Correspondance saisie chez Jaudonnet de Laugrenière au château de La Fougereuse, son quartier général près d'Argenton-Château de La Fougereuse" La Maraîchine Normande, post of 15.01.2019.
Arthur Chuquet, L'École de Mars, 1794 (1899),p.62
Readings
Petition on behalf of the young Derudder, read to the National Convention on 17th June 1793
On 1st June, during the action at La Fougereuse in Poitou, Derudder's father was shot dead with his son at his side. When he saw him fall, the latter had the presence of mind to take the wallet containing their money from his pocket. He then caught sight behind a tree, of the man who had killed his father. He seized the pistols from his father's belt, rush up and killed the man. After this courageous action, he shed a torrent of tears over the bloody body of his father; then, regaining his resolve, he put himself at the head of the detachment and advanced on the enemy, beating the charge until the rebels were totally defeated.
General Salomon, who, along with all the officers of the detachment, witnessed the action, asked him what he would like to do. He replied that he wished to go to Paris to console his mother. The General immediately issued him a certificate to draw all his pay, so that he could provide for his unfortunate mother who was now wholly dependent on him.
When he left Thouars, the general gave him a horse from the ordinance to take him as far as Saumur; however, since he did not know the route, he headed straight into Doué, which was in enemy hands. As soon as he saw his mistake, he took off his cockade and his silver braid so as not to be recognised as a gendarme. By this innocent ruse, and with the aid of the crown-shaped wreath which the general had given him for his father, he managed to pass as a Royalist and was sent to guard some of the spoils taken from the town. As soon as the coast was clear, he set out again, walking at random, and this time luckily arrived at Saumur. He asks the Convention for aid to support his mother.
Decree of the National Convention, 17th June 1793
The Convention decrees:
That mention be made in the Bulletin of the firm and courageous conduct of Jean-Dominique Derudder, aged 14, drummer of the 3rd Company of the 35th Division of the National Gendarmerie, in the affair of La Fougereuse.
That this young citizen be adopted by the National Convention in the name of the French nation; that he will be brought up at its expense
That his mother will be given provisional support of 1,000 livres.
The request for a pension is referred to the Committee of Liquidation.
Robespierre, Oeuvres complètes , vol.9, p. 598, Convention, 27 juin 1793.
From the Moniteur, Paris, 22 Messidor [10th June 1794]
One recalls with affection the bravery and filial piety displayed by the young Darruder(sic), a 14-year-old drummer boy, in the Fougeres(sic) affair in the Vendée. Seeing his father killed at his side, he snatched a pistol from his belt, accosted the murderer, blew out his brains and continued to beat the charge against the brigands until they were entirely routed. This worthy follower of Viala and Bara, has been offered as a model to the pupils of the École de Mars by the Representatives of the People, who admitted him to this school. They awarded him a "fraternal accolade" in the midst of applause and lively demonstrations of joy. "Yes, we will imitate him; yes, we will avenge our brothers; yes, we will affirm liberty," went up the cries. This touching scene electrified every soul; on every face there shone forth that republican energy, which will henceforth never tolerate on earth either slaves or tyrants.
Réimpression de l'Ancien Moniteur, vol. XX, p.185
One recalls with affection the bravery and filial piety displayed by the young Darruder(sic), a 14-year-old drummer boy, in the Fougeres(sic) affair in the Vendée. Seeing his father killed at his side, he snatched a pistol from his belt, accosted the murderer, blew out his brains and continued to beat the charge against the brigands until they were entirely routed. This worthy follower of Viala and Bara, has been offered as a model to the pupils of the École de Mars by the Representatives of the People, who admitted him to this school. They awarded him a "fraternal accolade" in the midst of applause and lively demonstrations of joy. "Yes, we will imitate him; yes, we will avenge our brothers; yes, we will affirm liberty," went up the cries. This touching scene electrified every soul; on every face there shone forth that republican energy, which will henceforth never tolerate on earth either slaves or tyrants.
Réimpression de l'Ancien Moniteur, vol. XX, p.185
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