One went towards Soustele and the neighbourhood of Alais, another towards St.Privat and the bridge of Montvert, while the third followed the mountain slope down to St.Roman le Pompidou, and Barre.
The first was commanded by Castanet, the second by Roland, and the third by Laporte.
Each party ravaged the country as it passed, returning deathblow for deathblow and conflagration for conflagration, so that hearing one after another of these outrages Captain Poul demanded reinforcements from M.
de Broglie and M.de Baville, which were promptly despatched.
As soon as Captain Poul found himself at the head of a sufficient number of troops, he determined to attack the rebels.

He had received intelligence that the band led by Laporte was just about to pass through the valley of Croix, below Barre, near Temelague.

In consequence of this information, he lay in ambush at a favourable spot on the route.

As soon as the Reformers who were without suspicion, were well within the narrow pass in which Poul awaited them, he issued forth at the head of his soldiers, and charged the rebels with such courage and impetuosity that they, taken by surprise, made no attempt at resistance, but, thoroughly demoralised, spread over the mountain-side, putting a greater and greater distance at, every instant between themselves and the enemy, despite the efforts of Laporte to make them stand their ground.

At last, seeing himself deserted, Laporte began to think of his own safety.