So stoutly was the post held that the Vendean general saw that the bridge could not be taken, without terrible loss.

He therefore contented himself with keeping up a heavy fire all day, while preparing an attack from other quarters.
The first step was to destroy the bridge behind the castle, and to make a breach in the wall near the Paris gate, thereby cutting off the garrison's means of retreat.

At five o'clock a large body of peasantry was massed for an attack on the bridge at Viennes; and its defenders, seeing the storm that was preparing, retired into the town.

The Vendeans crossed the bridge but, as they approached the walls, they were attacked by a battalion of the National Guard of Deux Sevres and a body of gendarmes and, taken by surprise, were driven back some distance.

Their leaders, however, speedily rallied them; and in the meantime other bodies forced their way into the town, at several points.
To avoid a massacre of his troops, Quetineau hoisted the white flag.