He Had
Fifty Horses For His Troopers, And Three Hundred Mules For The
Carriage Of His Merchandize.
His head-quarters were in Savoy:
But
he made incursions into Dauphine, and set the marechaussee at
defiance. He maintained several bloody skirmishes with these
troopers, as well as with other regular detachments, and in all
those actions signalized himself by his courage and conduct.
Coming up at one time with fifty of the marechaussee who were in
quest of him, he told them very calmly, he had occasion for their
horses and acoutrements, and desired them to dismount. At that
instant his gang appeared, and the troopers complied with his
request, without making the least opposition. Joseph said he was
as generous as he was brave, and never molested travellers, nor
did the least injury to the poor; but, on the contrary, relieved
them very often. He used to oblige the gentlemen in the country
to take his merchandize, his tobacco, brandy, and muslins, at his
own price; and, in the same manner, he laid the open towns under
contribution. When he had no merchandize, he borrowed money off
them upon the credit of what he should bring when he was better
provided. He was at last betrayed, by his wench, to the colonel
of a French regiment, who went with a detachment in the night to
the place where he lay in Savoy, and surprized him in a wood-house,
while his people were absent in different parts of the
country.
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