How were your lives when you were at the Ministry of War?
Xavier and Sylvie read the letter. It brings back a sense of nostalgia for the time when the men in Sylvie's life held strong political positions and could assert their ideas, when her grandmother was still alive and encouraging them, and when Jean, her brother, was an adorable boy very close to them—before he turned his back on their father .
Xavier decides to speak first.
Ahh, those were truly the good old days... I started out as Secretary General under my future father-in-law, Pache, who already knew me well from the time I was involved with the Patriotic Society of Luxembourg, where we often had conversations along the way.
When I served as Secretary General under the Ministry of War, I had a number of responsibilities. We had to reorganize the entire administration, and it was a colossal—though rewarding—task. Among other things, I had to create an office to assist petitioners, including injured soldiers, women, or the elderly, providing them with information about the steps to follow for their requests.
Later, when my father-in-law was unjustly removed from his position as Minister of War, I lost that position as well. But when Bouchotte returned, I became assistant to the minister alongside my dear colleagues Prosper Sijas and Ronsin. Vincent also rose in rank, and we were able to place many more compatriots loyal to the Revolution, to avoid another disaster like the betrayal by the traitor Dumouriez.
During his arrest, @lazarehoche reached out to me so I could attest to his civic virtues. Charles de Hesse also asked me to intervene on his behalf so that he might be released. I also supported a promotion for the son of Fouquier-Tinville to a second lieutenant position in the 4th Regiment of Chasseurs à Cheval. I was accused of acting arbitrarily, but I explained myself before the Convention, and everyone was satisfied with the outcome.
Even though I got along well with my colleagues—who made many excellent decisions—there were times when I had to oppose them, as in the case of François-Siméon Chauvet, who was unjustly dismissed and later arrested. I threatened to resign if he was not immediately reinstated.
Naturally, I received correspondence from important generals, including Alexandre Dumas (@general-alex-dumas), then Commander-in-Chief, in March 1794 regarding the military situation.
Nevertheless, I never got along with Hédoin Pons-Ludon, a military officer who wanted to be promoted to lieutenant colonel. I believed that decree was unwarranted, and he hurled insults at me.
I also took measures to halt or reverse sudden dismissals that I believed to be arbitrary and harmful to the public good. My position did not prevent me from accompanying representatives of the people to assess the situation in various cities and among the troops stationed there.
Finally, although this role kept me very busy, it didn’t stop me from remaining politically active. I continued to propose judicial reforms, political initiatives, and, when I had the time, attended the Jacobin Club.
Sylvie, lost in her thoughts of youth, begins to speak, her eyes sparkling with emotion.
Unlike my husband, I was never able to hold a formal position. But I learned so much just like my brother, thanks to my father. I used to sit at the table with my father's collaborators, who were always brilliant minds—like Hassenfratz, Vergne, General Meunier, Gaspard Monge, Carnot-Feulins...
I saw my father develop excellent strategies for establishing a purchasing directorate, responsible for centralizing supply acquisitions for the ministries, alongside the excellent Swiss banker Lindermann.
My father was always too cautious to share his military plans with me( and with anyone)—those were matters of state secrecy—but he taught me as much as he could about how military affairs ought to be managed. From time to time, I also saw the Roland couple back when they were still allies of my father, before their political split, when they were seeking updates on the war.
I also had the horror of meeting that miserable Dumouriez.
But if I hadn’t had so many meals with my father’s collaborators at the time, I never would have had the chance to fall in love with Xavier—the best husband I could ever have hoped for.
Xavier and Sylvie look at each other, more in love than ever, as they remember all their moments together before their wedding.
