Landon Boffman
Dr. Hoover
Historiography
9-23-13
Fusillade on the Boulevard
In the event of the Fusillade on the Boulevard, Lieutenant-Colonel Courant is the one to blame for the event because of his duty to carry out his military action against a hostile mob. He made the orders to tell his “grenadiers to fix bayonets” (pg.160) because he felt as if there was a threat to his unit and himself. His testimony that he gave displays that he was acting to survive and protect his unit from an unruly mob, and even though there are suspect situations in his testimony, he acted upon not trying to be killed along with his unit.
The event Fusillade on the Boulevard happened because of not only Lieutenant-Colonel Courant, but the panic that was instilled in everyone that was involved in the situation. Courant and his unit were in panic because of the unruly mob, and the National Guard had left their side so they were not protected, and had no strength in numbers. Also, Courant gave a command to men who were added to the group, and were marching in front of him, and they did not take heed to his command. This created chaos because as the group was disrespecting Courant, the mob appeared. Confusion along with panic caused the situation to get out of hand. In Courant’s testimony he explains an unexplained shot that comes about after he is being disrespected by a group of soldiers and the mob appears, he states,” Immediately a shot rang from out from I don’t know where.” (pg160) As Courant recollects the situation and the event, his testimonies not only show confusion, but also panic from his unit and himself.
The shock and confusion that Lieutenant Courant and his men experienced during the event also stemmed from the mob and the scuffle that happens to Lieutenant Courant goes through as the mob appears. Courant believes he had the respect from the mob, but the scuffle that happens makes a seemingly controlled event in his eyes chaos. His testimony shows his view of having everything under control while the National Guard is there, and when they leave seemingly all hell breaks loose. As Courant’s scuffle is going on a irritant shot comes about, and he speaks about his horse buckling from the noise. Courant even explains that at first he had everything in order, but he had trouble keeping the situation under order because too many things were happening at once. In the view point of Courant, he believed that the situation was under control until the irritant shot which caused majority of the chaos.
At the end of the end of the event, Courant explains how the event was over exaggerated, and that many people were not killed, and only one of his men were killed. The Lieutenant’s order to tell his squadron to fix bayonets was the main cause of the situation. Courant felt that its was his duty to prepare his unit to protect themselves, and he went with what he thought was right under duress. Also, with the National Guard leaving, Courant felt as if he had not enough numbers to control an angry mob that was soon to come. Courant felt he had one job, and that was to control the mob, and when the National Guard left he had to control the situation the best he could. He had things go against his way with the scuffle he was in while the mob appeared, his judgment of telling his unit to fix bayonets, and the irritant shot causing what seems as a small fire fight. In Courant’s perspective he did the best that he could under the situations he was handed. At the end of his testimony he tries to clear up that he did the best he could be stating that only twelve people were killed and one wounded.
In conclusion, Lieutenant Courant is the one to blame for the Fusillade on the Boulevard because of the situations that occurs that he testifies about. Obviously, he could have controlled the situation better, he did not have to give the order to his unit to fix bayonets because when he yells that a shot rings out because the person who shoots the gun thinks that an attack is on because of the order Courant gives. Even though Courant’s testimony does not state who fired the gun, his order causes chaos. Panic and shock were the main emphasis of his testimony because one event leads to another, which causes the even to escalate. At the end of the testimony, Courant tries to cover up by saying the event was over exaggerated just to save him from being blamed. Lieutenant Courant was the one to blame for this event by reading his testimony.
Dr. Hoover
Historiography
9-23-13
Fusillade on the Boulevard
In the event of the Fusillade on the Boulevard, Lieutenant-Colonel Courant is the one to blame for the event because of his duty to carry out his military action against a hostile mob. He made the orders to tell his “grenadiers to fix bayonets” (pg.160) because he felt as if there was a threat to his unit and himself. His testimony that he gave displays that he was acting to survive and protect his unit from an unruly mob, and even though there are suspect situations in his testimony, he acted upon not trying to be killed along with his unit.
The event Fusillade on the Boulevard happened because of not only Lieutenant-Colonel Courant, but the panic that was instilled in everyone that was involved in the situation. Courant and his unit were in panic because of the unruly mob, and the National Guard had left their side so they were not protected, and had no strength in numbers. Also, Courant gave a command to men who were added to the group, and were marching in front of him, and they did not take heed to his command. This created chaos because as the group was disrespecting Courant, the mob appeared. Confusion along with panic caused the situation to get out of hand. In Courant’s testimony he explains an unexplained shot that comes about after he is being disrespected by a group of soldiers and the mob appears, he states,” Immediately a shot rang from out from I don’t know where.” (pg160) As Courant recollects the situation and the event, his testimonies not only show confusion, but also panic from his unit and himself.
The shock and confusion that Lieutenant Courant and his men experienced during the event also stemmed from the mob and the scuffle that happens to Lieutenant Courant goes through as the mob appears. Courant believes he had the respect from the mob, but the scuffle that happens makes a seemingly controlled event in his eyes chaos. His testimony shows his view of having everything under control while the National Guard is there, and when they leave seemingly all hell breaks loose. As Courant’s scuffle is going on a irritant shot comes about, and he speaks about his horse buckling from the noise. Courant even explains that at first he had everything in order, but he had trouble keeping the situation under order because too many things were happening at once. In the view point of Courant, he believed that the situation was under control until the irritant shot which caused majority of the chaos.
At the end of the end of the event, Courant explains how the event was over exaggerated, and that many people were not killed, and only one of his men were killed. The Lieutenant’s order to tell his squadron to fix bayonets was the main cause of the situation. Courant felt that its was his duty to prepare his unit to protect themselves, and he went with what he thought was right under duress. Also, with the National Guard leaving, Courant felt as if he had not enough numbers to control an angry mob that was soon to come. Courant felt he had one job, and that was to control the mob, and when the National Guard left he had to control the situation the best he could. He had things go against his way with the scuffle he was in while the mob appeared, his judgment of telling his unit to fix bayonets, and the irritant shot causing what seems as a small fire fight. In Courant’s perspective he did the best that he could under the situations he was handed. At the end of his testimony he tries to clear up that he did the best he could be stating that only twelve people were killed and one wounded.
In conclusion, Lieutenant Courant is the one to blame for the Fusillade on the Boulevard because of the situations that occurs that he testifies about. Obviously, he could have controlled the situation better, he did not have to give the order to his unit to fix bayonets because when he yells that a shot rings out because the person who shoots the gun thinks that an attack is on because of the order Courant gives. Even though Courant’s testimony does not state who fired the gun, his order causes chaos. Panic and shock were the main emphasis of his testimony because one event leads to another, which causes the even to escalate. At the end of the testimony, Courant tries to cover up by saying the event was over exaggerated just to save him from being blamed. Lieutenant Courant was the one to blame for this event by reading his testimony.