The rest of the division arrived in the afternoon.

They had left, at their previous halting place, the heavy baggage; with a portion of their artillery ammunition.

Scarcely had they arrived at Vihiers when a tremendous explosion told them that the guard left behind had been overpowered, and their store of ammunition destroyed.
A feeling of uneasiness and alarm spread through the army.
Santerre's battalion were at once attacked by Rochejaquelein, who had but a small body of men with him, but who thought to take advantage of the alarm which the explosion would naturally cause among the enemy.

Santerre's battalion, however, stood firm, and the Vendeans were drawn off.

In the night, however, the main body of the peasants arrived and, at one o'clock next day, made their attack.
Menou himself, with the rest of his command, had now come up.