five o'clock
On the fourth morning they were destined to have their wish . A temporary bridge over the Thoué had been made near Varin , over which a great portion of the cannon had been taken to a point near the Loire , from which the royalists had been able to do great damage to the walls ; they had succeeded in making a complete breach of some yards , through which an easy entrance might be made , were it not for the moat ; much of the rubbish from the walls had fallen into it , so as considerably to lessen the breadth ; but there was still about twenty feet of water to be passed , and it was impossible , under the immediate guns of the castle , to contrive anything in the shape of a bridge . Notwithstanding the difficulties of the place , it was decided that Larochejaquelin should take two hundred of his men and endeavour to make his way through the water , and while he was doing this , de Lescure was to force his passage over the bridge at Fouchard , and if possible , carry the gate of the town ; in doing this he would pass under the heights of Bournan , and to this point M. d'Elbée was to accompany him with the great bulk of the army , so as to secure his flank from any attack from the republican force , which still retained their position there , and which had hitherto kept up an intercourse with the town across the bridge of Fouchard . At five o'clock the greater portion of the army left the camp with d'Elbée and de Lescure . When they came within two furlongs of the bridge , the army separated , the chief body remaining with M. d'Elbée and the remainder going on with M. de Lescure towards the town . The road turns a little before it reaches the bridge over the Thoué , and up to this point , the Vendeans , in their progress , were tolerably protected from the guns of the town ; but immediately they turned upon the bridge , they became exposed to a tremendous fire . The men at once perceived this and hesitated to cross the river ; two of the foremost of their men fell as they put their feet upon the bridge .