"[2] Louis-Vincent-Joseph Le Blond de Saint-Hilaire was born in Ribemont, Aisne on 4 September 1766, the son of a captain in the Conti cavalry regiment.

[6] After the fall of the city, he was promoted to provisional adjudant-général chef de bataillon by representatives of the people Saliceti and Barras on 27 December 1793 and posted to Masséna's Army of Italy.

[4] Laharpe wrote this appraisal of the young officer: The moral and political conduct of this adjutant-general has consistently been good, his principles pure and his civility unfailing.

[5]On 3 December 1794, he was provisionally promoted to adjudant général chef de brigade by representatives of the people Ritter, Turreau and Saliceti.

[4] At the head of two companies of scouts, he seized the Col de Thernes near Ormea on 14 April 1795 and defended it for three hours against a whole Piedmontese regiment, taking 300 prisoners.

[4] Ordered by Kellermann to defend a position nicknamed Little Gibraltar with 480 men,[3] he fought off an attack by 9000 Austro-Sardinian troops on 19 September 1795, taking 600 prisoners.