On this very day, Jesser is back on RN 89 to recover the garrison of Ussel and free the one in Egletons. Ambuscades slow down the progress of the two columns which follow one another with a 24 hour interval. Jesser succeeds in joining the party of Egletons and gets ready to turn back toward his basis in Clermont-Ferrand without having recovered the prisoners of Ussel.
We are on August 18th, it will take him 4 days to losen the grip of the Resistance ; let us follow this withdrawal : the road being up by explosives, Jesser must drive through Meymac.
First mine at the exit out of Meymac ; a German car is blasted up
In the hill of Les Gardes, ambuscade - Jesser reaches the RN 89.
Ambuscade at Le Fraysse, ambuscade at Le Gardet.
Jesser arrives at Ussel, he has covered less than 20 miles in 5 hours !
The column leaves Ussel parted in several convoys ; the last one starts in the morning of 22nd , Ussel is free.
But they go on fighting :
- Ambuscade at Veinard, ambuscade at the level-crossing of Le Cierneix, ambuscade at Hill 804, ambuscade at the road to Aix....
The first armored vehicles arrive at Merlines at 5 P.M. ; they have covered 12.5 miles in 4 hours.
They will avoid the Chavanon to reach the Puy-de-Dôme on by-pass roads.
But on the following morning, on 22nd close to the wood of Bonnaygues, the third convoy is attacked.
A German diversion toward the Chavanon fails on mines.
The enemy will leave Corrèze on this very August 22nd , giving up the RN 89 in its middle part, the strategic importance of which for its movements was considerable.
Higher-Corrèze has freed itself alone, by fightning. Its tribute is heavy.