XXVI 



HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. 



other hand, the Patriotic Party 

 in Avignon and Vauclues, rai- 

 fed an army of near io,ooc 

 men. The greateft: part of 

 thcle forces put themfelves in 

 marc'^, on the i8th of April, 

 towards Sarrians, a town in the 

 neighbourhood of Orange, and 

 one of tliofe comprifed in the 

 Federation of Sainte Cecile. — 

 On the 19th, at ei^ht o'clock 

 in the morning, they halted in 

 a plain in the vicinity of Sar- 

 rians, where the army took 

 their breakfaft. 



From the peafants in the 

 neighbourhood they learnt, that 

 Sarrians was entirely deferted 

 by the garrifon thrown into it, 

 and that the town intended to 

 lurrender. On the faith of this 

 report, they continued their 

 march in fecure confidence ; 

 when all of a fuden, while their 

 main body were pafling a de- 

 file, they were attacked from 

 the heights on each fide, by a 

 continued difcharge of muf- 

 quetry and cannon ; and here 

 •was fought the firft pitched 

 battle to which the revolution 

 in France has given occafion. 



The Patriot Army difen- 

 gaged themfelves from the de- 

 file, and formed their ranks. 

 The enemy, faid to have con- 

 fided of feven thoufand men, 

 formed into two bodies, and 

 fupplied with feven cannon, 

 had greatly the advantage of 

 pofition ; they were, however, 

 obliged to give ground. 



They then entrenched them- 

 felves among fome country- 

 houfes ; from whence, being 

 diflodged, they rallied a fecond 

 time, and drew up in ranks. 

 Here commenced a regular 



combat, vhich ended in the 

 total difp"rfion of the Rebel 

 Army. That of the Patriots 

 marched ftrait on to Sarrians, 

 and planting their cannon a- 

 gainfi its walls, the keys were 

 delivered after the firft dif- 

 charge. The Lieutenant-Ge- 

 neral who commanoed in the 

 attack, entered with a mode- 

 rate efcort, and proceeded to 

 the Hottl de Ville, vi'hich was 

 deferted, and the doors and 

 windows of the houfes were 

 all ihut ; while in the midftof 

 this general filence, a difcharge 

 of mufquetry was made from 

 all the windows opening on the 

 Grand Square. Here the foldi- 

 ers could no longer be reftrain- 

 ed ; a general pillage took 

 place, and fire was fet to the 

 houfes from whence the muf- 

 kets were difcharged. 

 ■ After this the army wth- 

 drew from the town, encamp- 

 ed on fome heights which com- 

 manded it, and after refting 

 there about two hours, march- 

 ed on to Mouteux, a town a- 

 bout two leagues diftant from 

 Carpentras, where they are 

 now encamped. 



In confequence of the infiir- 

 redlion above related, M. Me- 

 nou propofed the following 

 Decree, in the National Alv 

 fembly, on the 7 th current : 

 " That Avignon, with Venaif- 

 fin, and all their Dependen- 

 cies, ftiould be incorporated 

 with France ; that the King 

 fhould be requefted to fend 

 three Commiflioners, with full 

 powers, to confirm this Union, 

 &c. &c. and to negociate with 

 the Court of Rome for an in- 

 demnification." 



