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death of the latter； one of their stores； containing more than eighty
sacks of corn； had been taken at Toiras。 The next day； Catinat； who；
with a dozen men； was in hiding in a vineyard of La Vaunage； was
surprised by a detachment of Soissonnais； eleven of his men were
killed； the twelfth made prisoner； and he himself barely escaped with
a severe wound。 The 25th of the same month； a cavern near Sauve；
which the rebels used as a store； and which contained one hundred and
fifty sacks of fine wheat； was discovered； lastly； Chevalier de
Froulay had found a third hiding…place near Mailet。 In this； which
had been used not only as a store but as a hospital； besides a
quantity of salt beef； wine； and flour； six wounded Camisards were
found； who were instantly shot as they lay。
The only band which remained unbroken was Ravanel's； but since the
departure of Cavalier things had not gone well with his lieutenant。
In consequence of this； and also on account of the successive checks
which the other bodies of Camisard troops had met with； Ravanel
proclaimed a solemn fast； in order to intercede with God to protect
the Huguenot cause。 On Saturday； the 13th September； he led his
entire force to the wood of St。 Benazet； intending to pass the whole
of the next day with them there in prayer。 But treason was rife。
Two peasants who knew of this plan gave information to M。 Lenoir；
mayor of Le Vigan； and he sent word to the marechal and M。 de
Saville； who were at Anduze。
Nothing could have been more welcome to the governor than this
important information： he made the most careful disposition of his
forces； hoping to destroy the rebellion at one blow。 He ordered
M。 de Courten； a brigadier…colonel in command at Alais； to take a
detachment of the troops under him and patrol the banks of the Gardon
between Ners and Castagnols。 He was of opinion that if the Camisards
were attacked on the other side by a body of soldiers drawn from
Anduze； which he had stationed during the night at Dommersargues；
they would try to make good their retreat towards the river。 The
force at Dommersargues might almost be called a small army； for it
was composed of a Swiss battalion； a battalion of the Hainault
regiment； one from the Charolais regiment； and four companies of
dragoons from Fimarcon and Saint…Sernin。
Everything took place as the peasants had said： on Saturday the 13th；
the Camisards entered； as we have seen； the wood of St。 Benazet； and
passed the night there。
At break of day the royals from Dommersargues began their advance。
The Camisard outposts soon perceived the movement； and warned
Ravanel； who held his little council of war。 Everyone was in favour
of instant retreat； so they retired towards Ners； intending to cross
the Gardon below that town： just as M。 de Villars had foreseen； the
Camisards did everything necessary for the success of his plans； and
ended by walking right into the trap set for them。
On emerging from the wood of St。 Benazet； they caught sight of a
detachment of royals drawn up and waiting for them between Marvejols
and a mill called the Moulin…du…Pont。 Seeing the road closed in this
direction； they turned sharp to the left； and gained a rocky valley
which ran parallel to the Gardon。 This they followed till they came
out below Marvejols； where they crossed the river。 They now thought
themselves out of danger； thanks to this manoeuvre； but suddenly they
saw another detachment of royals lying on the grass near the mill of
La Scie。 They at once halted again； and then； believing themselves
undiscovered； turned back； moving as noiselessly as possible；
intending to recross the river and make for Cardet。 But they only
avoided one trap to fall into another； for in this direction they
were met by the Hainault battalion； which swooped down upon them。
A few of these ill…fated men rallied at the sound of Ravanel's voice
and made an effort to defend themselves in spite of the prevailing
confusion； but the danger was so imminent； the foes so numerous； and
their numbers decreased so rapidly under the fierce assault； that
their example failed of effect； and flight became general： every man
trusted to chance for guidance； and； caring nothing for the safety of
others； thought only of his own。
Then it ceased to be a battle and become a massacre； for the royals
were ten to one； and among those they encountered； only sixty had
firearms； the rest； since the discovery of their various magazines；
having been reduced to arm themselves with bad swords； pitchforks；
and bayonets attached to sticks。 Hardly a man survived the fray。
Ravanel himself only succeeded in escaping by throwing himself into
the river； where he remained under water between two rocks for seven
hours； only coming to the surface to breathe。 When night fell and
the dragoons had retired； he also fled。
This was the last battle of the war； which had lasted four years。
With Cavalier and Roland； those two mountain giants； the power of the
rebels disappeared。 As the news of the defeat spread； the Camisard
chiefs and soldiers becoming convinced that the Lord had hidden His
face from them； surrendered one by one。 The first to set an example
was Castanet。 On September 6th； a week after the defeat of Ravanel；
he surrendered to the marechal。 On the 19th； Catinat and his
lieutenant； Franqois Souvayre； tendered their submission； on the
22nd； Amet； Roland's brother； came in； on October 4th； Joanny； on the
9th； Larose； Valette； Salomon； Laforet； Moulieres； Salles； Abraham
and Marion； on the 20th； Fidele； and on the 25th； Rochegude。
Each made what terms he could； in general the conditions were
favourable。 Most of those who submitted received rewards of money；
some more； some less； the smallest amount given being 200 livres。
They all received passports； and were ordered to leave the kingdom；
being sent； accompanied by an escort and at the king's expense； to
Geneva。 The following is the account given by Marion of the
agreement he came to with the Marquis Lalande； probably all the
others were of the same nature。
〃I was deputed；〃 he says； 〃to treat with this lieutenant…general in
regard to the surrender of my own troops and those of Larose； and to
arrange terms for the inhabitants of thirty…five parishes who had
contributed to our support during the war。 The result of the
negotiations was that all the prisoners from our cantons should be
set at liberty； and be reinstated in their possessions； along with
all the others。 The inhabitants of those parishes which had been
ravaged by fire were to be exempt from land…tax for three years； and
in no parish were the inhabitants to be taunted with the past； nor
molested on the subject of religion； but were to be free to worship
God in their own houses according to their consciences。〃
These agreements were fulfilled with such punctuality； that Larose
was permitted to open the prison doors of St。 Hippolyte to forty
prisoners the very day he made submission。
As we have said； the Camisards； according as they came in； were sent
off to Geneva。 D'Aygaliers； whose fate we have anticipated； arrived
there on September 23rd； accompanied by Cavalier's eldest brother；
Malpach； Roland's secretary； and thirty…six Camisards。 Catinat and
Castanet arrived there on the 8th October； along with twenty…two
other persons； while Larose； Laforet； Salomon； Moulieres； Salles；
Marion； and Fidele reached it under the escort of forty dragoons from
Fimarcon in the month of November。
Of all the chiefs who had turned Languedoc for four years into a vast
arena； only Ravanel remained； but he refused either to surrender or
to leave the country。 On the 8th October the marechal issued an
order declaring he had forfeited all right to the favour of an
amnesty； and offering a reward of 150 Louis to whoever delivered him
up living； and 2400 livres to whoever brought in his dead body； while
any hamlet； village； or town which gave him refuge would be burnt to
the ground and the inhabitants put to the sword。
The revolt seemed to be at an end and peace established。 So the
marechal was recalled to court； and left Nimes on January the 6th。
Before his departure he received the States of Languedoc； who
bestowed on him not only the praise which was his due for having
tempered severity with mercy； but also a purse of 12；000 livres；
while a sum of 8000 livres was presented to his wife。 But all this
was only a prelude to the favours awaiting him at court。 On the day
he returned to Paris the king decorated him with all the royal orders
and created him a duke。 On the following day he received him； and
thus addressed him： 〃Sir； your past services lead me to expect much
of those you will render me in the future。 The affairs of my kingdom
would be better conducted if I had several Villars at my disposal。
Having only one； I must always send him where he is most needed。 It
was for that reason I sent you to Languedoc。 You have； while there；
restored tranquillity to my subjects； you must now defend them
against their enemies； for I shall send you to command my army on the
Moselle in the next campaign。〃
The； Duke of Berwick arrived at Montpellier on the 17th Mar