 French and Piedmontese troops, a total of about 7,000 to 8,000, enjoyed success in the early fighting.An attempt by 500 "Barbets", the French name for the Vaudois, to catch and destroy an isolated detachment guarding the French lines of communication failed badly, with the Barbets suffering severe casualties.The Barbets turned to guerrilla warfare in early May, a reflection that direct clashes with the French and the Piedmontese did not produce any results.