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apparently waiting to escort the troops out of the city。
At four o'clock P。M。 the troops got ready； each company stacking its
arms in the courtyard before： marching out； but hardly had forty or
fifty men passed the gates than fire was opened on them at such close
range that half of them were killed or disabled at the first volley。
Upon this； those who were still within the walls closed the courtyard
gates； thus cutting off all chance of retreat from their comrades。
In the event； however； it turned out that several of the latter
contrived to escape with their lives and that they lost nothing
through being prevented from returning； for as soon as the mob saw
that ten or twelve of their victims had slipped through their hands
they made a furious attack on the barracks； burst in the gates； and
scaled the walls with such rapidity； that the soldiers had no time to
repossess themselves of their muskets； and even had they succeeded in
seizing them they would have been of little use； as ammunition was
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 w