When this persecution had lasted for nearly thirty years, a body of young men who were gathered together in the High Cevennes resolved to defend themselves by force.
Among these young men was one, a mere boy, named Jean Cavalier. This boy, without knowing it, had military genius of a very high order, and when it became evident that he and his comrades could not long hold out against the large bodies of regular troops sent against them, he suggested a plan which in the end proved to be so good that for years the poor peasants were able to maintain war against all the armies that King Louis could send.
Cavalier's plan was to make uprisings in several places at once, so that the King's officers could not tell in which way to turn. As he and his comrades knew the country well, and had friends to tell them of the enemy's movements, they could nearly always know when it was safe to attack, and when they must hide in the woods.
One Sunday, Cavalier, who was a preacher as well as a soldier, held services in his camp in the woods, and all the Protestant peasants in the neighborhood attended. The Governor of Alais, whose name was De la Hay, thought this a good opportunity not only to defeat Cavalier's small force, but also to catch the Protestant women and children in the act of attending a Protestant service, the punishment for which was death. He collected a force of about six hundred men and marched toward the wood, where he knew he should outnumber the peasants three or four to one. He had a mule loaded with ropes, declaring that he was going to hang all of the rebels at once.
When news of their coming was brought to the peasants, they sent away all the women and children, and began to discuss the situation. They had no commander, for although Cavalier had led them generally, he had no authority to do so. On this occasion many thought it best to retreat at once, as there were less than two hundred of them; but Cavalier declared that if they would follow him, he would lead them to a place where victory might be won. They consented, and he advanced to a point on the road where he could shelter his men. Quickly disposing them in line of battle behind some defenses, he awaited the coming of the enemy.
De la Hay, being overconfident because of his superior numbers, blundered at the outset. Instead of attacking first with his infantry, he placed his horsemen in front, and ordered an assault. Cavalier was quick to take advantage of this blunder. He ordered only a few of his men to fire, and this drew a volley from the advancing horsemen, which did little damage to the sheltered troops, but emptied the horsemen's weapons. Instantly Cavalier ordered a charge and a volley, and the horsemen, with empty pistols, gave way. Cavalier pursued hotly, giving the enemy no time to rally. A re-enforcement coming up, tried to check Cavalier's charge, but so violent was the onset that these fresh troops gave way in their turn, and the chase ended only when the King's men had shut themselves up in the fortified towns.
When the battle was over it was decided unanimously to make Cavalier the commander. He refused, however, unless they would also give him power to enforce obedience, and his troops at once voted to make his authority absolute, even in questions of life and death. According to the best authorities, Cavalier was only seventeen years old when this absolute command was conferred upon him.
On one occasion Cavalier attacked a party of forty men who were marching through the country to re-enforce a distant post, and killed most of them. While searching the dead bodies, he found in the pocket of the commanding officer an order signed by Count Broglio, the King's Lieutenant, directing all military officers and town authorities to lodge and feed the party on their march. No sooner had the boy soldier read this paper than he resolved to turn it to his own advantage.
The castle of Servas, near Alais, had long been a source of trouble to Cavalier. It was a strong place, built upon a steep hill, and was so difficult of approach that it would have been madness to try to take it by force.
