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totally wanting。 The barracks being thus carried by assault； a
horrible massacre ensued； which lasted for three hours。 Some of the
wretched men； being hunted from room to room； jumped out of the first
window they could reach； without stopping to measure its height from
the ground； and were either impaled on the bayonets held in readiness
below； or； falling on the pavement； broke their limbs and were
pitilessly despatched。
The gendarmes； who had really been called out to protect the retreat
of the garrison； seemed to imagine they were there to witness a
judicial execution； and stood immovable and impassive while these
horrid deeds went on before their eyes。 But the penalty of this
indifference was swiftly exacted； for as soon as the soldiers were
all done with； the mob； finding their thirst for blood still
unslacked； turned on the gendarmes； the greater number of whom were
wounded； while all lost their horses； and some their lives。
The populace was still engaged at its bloody task when news came that
the army from Beaucaire was within sight of the town； and the
murderers； hastening to despatch some of the wounded who still showed
signs of life； went forth to meet the long expected reinforcements。
Only those who saw the advancing army with their own eyes can form
any idea of its condition and appearance； the first corps excepted。
This corps was commanded by M。 de Barre； who had put himself at its
head with the noble purpose of preventing； as far as he could；
massacre and pillage。 In this he was seconded by the officers under
him； who were actuated by the same philanthropic motives as their
general in identifying themselves with the corps。 Owing to their
exertions； the men advanced in fairly regular order； and good
discipline was maintained。 All the men carried muskets。
But the first corps was only a kind of vanguard to the second； which
was the real army； and a wonderful thing to see and hear。 Never were
brought together before or since so many different kinds of howl； so
many threats of death； so many rags； so many odd weapons； from the
matchlock of the time of the Michelade to the steel…tipped goad of
the bullock drovers of La Camargue； so that when the Nimes mob； which
in all conscience was howling and ragged enough； rushed out to offer
a brotherly welcome to the strangers； its first feeling was one of
astonishment and dismay as it caught sight of the motley crew which
held out to it the right hand of fellowship。
The new…comers soon showed that it was through necessity and not
choice that their outer man presented such a disreputable appearance；
for they were hardly well within the gates before demanding that the
houses of the members of the old Protestant National Guard should be
pointed out to them。
This being done； they promptly proceeded to exact from each household
a musket； a coat； a complete kit； or a sum of money； according to
their humour； so that before evening those who had arrived naked and
penniless were provided with complete uniforms and had money in their
pockets。 These exactions were levied under the name of a
contribution； but before the day was ended naked and undisguised
pillage began。
Someone asserted that during the assault on the barracks a certain
individual had fired out of a certain house on the assailants。 The
indignant people now rushed to the house indicated； and soon left
nothing of it in existence but its walls。 A little later it was
clearly proved that the individual accused was quite innocent of the
crime laid to his charge。
The house of a rich merchant lay in the path of the advancing army。
A cry arose that the owner was a Bonapartist； and nothing more was
needed。 The house was broken into and pillaged； and the furniture
thrown out of the windows。
Two days later it turned out that not only was the merchant no
Bonapartist； but that his son had been one of those who had
accompanied the Duc d'Angouleme to Cette when he left the country。
The pillagers excused themselves by saying they had been misled by a
resemblance between two names； and this excuse； as far as appears；
was accepted as valid by the authorities。
It was not long before the populace of Nimes began to think they
might as well follow the example set them by their brothers from
Beaucaire。 In twenty…four hours free companies were formed； headed
by Trestaillons； Truphe？ny； Graffan； and Morinet。 These bands
arrogated to themselves the title of National Guard； and then what
took place at Marseilles in the excitement of the moment was repeated
at Nimes with deliberation and method； inspired by hate and the
desire of vengeance。 A revolt broke out which followed the ordinary
course： first pillage； then fire； then murder； laid waste the city。
M。 V_____'s house； which stood in the middle of the town； was sacked
and then burnt to the ground； without a hand being raised to prevent
the crime。
M。 T_____'s house； on the road to Montpellier； was sacked and wrecked
and a bonfire made of the furniture； round which the crowd danced； as
if it had been an occasion of public rejoicing。 Then cries were
raised for the proprietor； that he might be killed； and as he could
not be found the baffled fury of the mob vented itself on the dead。
A child three months buried was dragged from its grave； drawn by the
feet through the sewers and wayside puddles； and then flung on a
dung…heap； and； strange to say； while incendiarism and sacrilege thus
ran riot； the mayor of the place slept so sound that when he awoke he
was 〃quite astonished；〃 to use his own expression； to hear what had
taken place during the night。
This expedition completed； the same company which had brought this
expedition to a successful issue next turned their attention to a
small country house occupied by a widow； whom I had often begged to
take refuge with us。 But； secure in her insignificance； she had
always declined our offers； preferring to live solitary and retired
in her own home。 But the freebooters sought her out； burst in her
doors； drove her away with blows and insults； destroyed her house and
burnt her furniture。 They then proceeded to the vault in which lay
the remains of her family； dragged them out of their coffins and
scattered them about the fields。 The next day the poor
woman…ventured back； collected the desecrated remains with pious
care； and replaced them in the vault。 But this was counted to her as
a crime； the company returned； once more cast forth the contents of
the coffins； and threatened to kill her should she dare to touch them
again。 She was often seen in the days that followed shedding bitter
tears and watching over the sacred relics as they lay exposed on the
ground。
The name of this widow was Pepin； and the scene of the sacrilege was
a small enclosure on the hill of the Moulins…a…Vent。
Meantime the people in the Faubourg des Bourgades had invented a new
sort of game； or rather； had resolved to vary the serious business of
the drama that was being enacted by the introduction of comic scenes。
They had possessed themselves of a number of beetles such as
washerwomen use； and hammered in long nails； the points of which
projected an inch on the other side in the form of a fleur…de…lis。
Every Protestant who fell into their hands； no matter what his age or
rank； was stamped with the bloody emblem； serious wounds being
inflicted in many cases。
Murders were now becoming common。 Amongst other names of victims
mentioned were Loriol； Bigot； Dumas； Lhermet； Heritier； Domaison；
Combe； Clairon； Begomet； Poujas； Imbert； Vigal； Pourchet； Vignole。
Details more or less shocking came to light as to the manner in which
the murderers went to work。 A man called Dalbos was in the custody
of two armed men； some others came to consult with them。 Dalbos
appealed for mercy to the new…comers。 It was granted； but as he
turned to go he was shot dead。 Another of the name of Rambert tried
to escape by disguising himself as a woman； but was recognised and
shot down a few yards outside his own door。 A gunner called Saussine
was walking in all security along the road to Uzes； pipe in mouth；
when he was met by five men belonging to Trestaillon's company； who
surrounded him and stabbed him to the heart with their knives。 The
elder of two brothers named Chivas ran across some fields to take
shelter in a country house called Rouviere； which； unknown to him；
had been occupied by some of the new National Guard。 These met him
on the threshold and shot him dead。
Rant was seized in his own house and shot。 Clos was met by a
company； and seeing Trestaillons； with whom he had always been
friends； in its ranks； he went up to him and held out his hand；
whereupon Trestaillons drew a pistol from his belt and blew his
brains out。 Calandre being chased down the rue des Soeurs…Grises；
sought shelter in a tavern； but was forced to come out； and was
killed with sabres。 Courbet was sent to prison under the escort of
some men； but these changed their minds on the way as to his
punishment； halted； and shot him dead in the middle of the street。
A wine merchant called Cabanot； who was flying from Trestaillons； ran
into a house in which