Néraud’s force routed Pétion at the Pierroux plantation, and Pétion escaped through a canal.

Pétion, in spite of Benjamin’s reverse, occupied on the following day, 10 frimaire (1 December) (2), the Pierroux plantation. He had Daut enter the main house and ordered him to pierce loopholes there. At nine o’clock the sentries signaled the enemy: Néraud was indeed arriving with the 86th, a detachment of the 5th, and the national guard of the town, preceded by two 4-pounders. Before forces more numerous than his own, Pétion unexpectedly changed his plan of combat: foreseeing that the cannonballs would break the walls of the main house, and that the splinters of stone would serve as grapeshot against the 10th, he had Daut leave the house and take position behind the building. At first the shock was withstood; but the cannon soon drove our soldiers back. Pétion orders the 10th to advance, in vain; the enemy cavalry was already in its ranks. The 1st and 2nd hold alone; but the loss of several officers throws these corps also into disorder and confusion; they scatter like the 10th, abandoning one of their flags, which the young Roche Vilbon (1) seizes. Pétion finds himself almost alone in the midst of the enemy’s fire. Benjamin runs up and with a few brave men protects his retreat. Pétion then throws himself into the canal, passes under the bridge and gains the gardens of the plantation. He had only this means of escaping the pursuit of the cavalry, led by Saint-James. That morning cost him fourteen men. Having reached the rear of the hill that overlooks the Jonc plantation, he found himself almost alone, when, perceiving a young drummer who had followed him in this perilous flight, he ordered him to beat the call to rally the troops. Soon there came to rejoin him some of his guides, officers, and a good number of soldiers. At that moment there appeared a white dragoon who, in the charge, had strayed from his line. One of the guides throws himself upon this dragoon; the latter flings himself down from his horse and gains the woods. Belair seizes the pistols and gives up the horse to an officer of the 10th. This same officer, abusing his authority, wished to tear the pistols from the guide’s hands. Pétion took advantage of this circumstance to speak to the officers: “Thus it is,” he said to them, “that there are found among you men skilled at plunder and cowardly in battle. Be assured that henceforth I shall have shot those who flee before the enemy. Belair,” he continued, “blow out the brains of those who try to tear your pistols from you.”