Vaudreuil plantation. Romain’s entrenchments, attacked by Claparède

Romain withdrew to Vaudreuil, where he entrenched himself during the night after rallying all his troops. This check had not discouraged him. He made ready to throw himself upon the Cap again. General Clausel, informed of his plan, resolved to disperse his troops. The next day, 6 February, General Claparède received orders to take command of the army. He came out of the Cap at the head of the 7th, 29th and 83rd of the line, a force of 2,500 men, and at the head of 600 National Guards from outside the town and 200 horsemen of the Guard of Honor under the orders of Colonel Neterwood. He attacked the Indigenous in their entrenchments at Vaudreuil. Romain withstood the shock of the French, though they outnumbered him. Assailed on every side, he presented a formidable front everywhere. Claparède, after vain efforts to carry the entrenched camp, feigned a retreat in order to draw the Indigenous out of their lines into the open field. Romain, believing that the French were on the point of flight, sprang over his entrenchment to break them. Claparède at once faced about and opened his ranks, and the light artillery poured grapeshot into the Indigenous battalions. Brigade Commander Neterwood at once charged at the head of the cavalry of the Guard of Honor. Romain, without being broken, returned to his position. Neterwood, carried away by his usual ardor, stopped only at the foot of the entrenchments, where he was met by a brisk fusillade. He saw Captain Laforge of the captain-general’s guard fall at his side. The two armies remained facing each other. The Indigenous lost 200 men, and the French about as many. During the following night General Romain withdrew to his headquarters at Le Limbé.