about
four in the morning
They had no resource but to fly on to Montreuil , which was still above two leagues distant from them ; and should the republican troops persevere in the pursuit , their loss upon the road would be terrific . The darkness was their only friend , and on they went towards Montreuil . The republican soldiers were stopped by the waggons and cannons ; it was then as dark as a night in June ever is ; it was well known also that the Republic had no friends in Montreull ; the troops had been driven from the place by M. de Lescure , on his road to Doué , and the royalists would be able to make a very strong stand in the streets of the town ; the pursuit was , therefore , given up , and the blues returned to the camp at Varin , with all the artillery and the baggage belonging to the royalists . M. d'Elbée remained all the while in his position by the river ; he heard the firing -- he also heard the confused noise of the retreat , but he felt that it was impossible for him , at that hour of night , to take any steps without knowing what had been done , or what he had better do : at about four in the morning , he learnt exactly what had occurred , and then he rejoined Cathelineau at Montreuil . The Vendeans , during the night , lost every cannon they possessed ; all their baggage , consisting of provisions , wearing apparel , and ammunition ; they lost also about five hundred men , in killed , wounded and prisoners ; but all this was not of so much injury as the loss of the prestige of victory . The peasants had conceived themselves invincible , and they were struck with consternation to find they were liable to repulse and defeat . Early on the following morning , another council of war was held , but the spirits and hopes of the Generals had been greatly damped .