Geffrard attacked Les Cayes in three columns, and Cangé’s assault was thrown back.

Geffrard then serves on the town a summons to surrender within twenty-four hours. This term having expired without reply, he has his army advance. On 17 ventôse (8 March), at three o’clock in the morning, he attacks Les Cayes in three columns; the first, composed of the 1st demi-brigade and the troops of the West, under the orders of Cangé, presents itself by the main road before the Pont barrier; the second, formed of the 2nd and 3rd, under the orders of Gérin, follows along the ditch that extends toward the fort of the Ilet; it is to attack with fascines; the third, composed of the 4th and the other country people, commanded by Férou, is to move, at the other extremity of the town, upon the post of Trousse-Cotte (1).

Laplume and Berger, a white man, the military commandant, move everywhere at the head of the national guard and of the 20th and 86th. Two 18-pounders, placed at the gate of the Pont, sweep the column from the front with grapeshot. Cangé advances nevertheless, having the ranks re-formed, as if it were a question of parading under the eyes of his old general, the Comte d’Estaing. At last he springs upon the cannon and turns them against the town, into which he himself has penetrated. He crosses the marketplace with drums beating and arrives before the post of the prison. But an imposing force was waiting for him there. He is obliged to fall back as far as the Pont. The melee becomes horrible; one piece of cannon falls again into the power of the enemy. The other is defended hand to hand by captain Modeste, of the grenadiers of the 1st. This brave man lets himself be killed on the gun carriage sooner than abandon it.