Although the movement still retained the support of the people, there were many who were appalled at the violent trend it had taken, and this was the situation when Jack Hughes of Ty-Isha near Tumble, decided to organise an attack on the Hendy and Pontardulais gates. It was almost inevitable that news of the plan would leak out, and on Wednesday morning, September 6th, Miss Hannah Edwards of Gelliwernen heard that the raid was to take place that night.

She immediately sent a servant galloping to Llanelli with a note to the magistrate, William Chambers, Jnr., who in turn sent a messenger with all speed to Swansea to inform Captain Napier of the impending attack on the Pontardulais gate, and also sent a request to Major Parbly in Carmarthen for cavalry support. So, as Jack Hughes and his Rebeccaites rode from Llannon that night, William Chambers, Jnr., with 20 men of the 76th Regiment of Foot were preparing to defend the Hendy gate with no knowledge of what preparations Captain Napier had made in Pontardulais on the other side of the river.

Shortly after midnight, the sounds of hunting horns and shouts of a large number of men heralded the arrival of 'Rebecca and her Daughters'. They swarmed down Fforest Hill giving a loud cheer and firing a volley into the air as they passed the Red Lion. They charged across the bridge, and with axes, crowbars, pickaxes and sledgehammers began to demolish the gate and tollgate. They were so preoccupied with their task of destruction that Captain Napier arrived without being observed and lined his men across the road.

He then shouted "Stop!" and immediately three of the mounted leaders wheeled around to face the line of policemen, and Rebecca on the white horse aimed his pistol at Captain Napier and fired. The shot missed, and Napier shouted, "Mark that man!" followed by the command, "Fire". The line of policemen and magistrates fired a volley into the crowd at the gate who returned the fire with an erratic volley. The rioters then broke up, dashing in a wild panic towards the bridge struggling to gain the apparent safety of Carmarthenshire.

Meanwhile, Napier had dragged Jack Hughes off his horse and succeeded in overpowering him, but was suddenly struck from behind. Sergeant Jenkins once again came to his chief's rescue firing at Jack Hughes; shattering his arm with a pistol shot. Hughes made a dash towards the bridge to join the men striving to get away, but was captured by constable John Price. Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn apprehended David Jones after a fierce struggle. John Hughes had been captured by Constable Thomas Jones, and the three bloodstained prisoners were manacled and made to sit on the ground by the partly demolished tollgatehouse.

William Chambers and his soldiers guarding the Hendy Gate listened to the distant sounds of gunfire believing that the Pontarddulais gate was being distroyed. When the firing died away, Chambers decided to march his men towards the Black Horse Square to intercept the rioters and keep them away from the Hendy tollgate. This almost ended in disaster as the soldiers of the 76th Regiment of Foot almost collided with a troop of the 4th Light Dragoons riding to support the defence of the Hendy gate.

So ended the battle of the Pontarddulais tollgate... but it was not the finish as far as Shoni Scubor Fawr and his gang of ruffians were concerned. They decided to complete Jack Hughes' plan, and two nights later they destroyed the Hendy gate and gatehouse, shooting and killing Sarah Williams the tollkeeper in the processs.

Jack Hughes was sentenced to 20 years transportation, while David Jones and John Hugh was given seven years each. Daniel Lewis and his five companions - Griff Vaughan, William and Henry Morgan, Matthew Morgan and David Jones were not prosecuted due to a lack of witnesses. As the three men from Llannon were on their way to Millbank Penitentiary in London to await a prison ship to take them half way across the world; the men from Pontarddulais rode home to a rapturous welcome from the people of the village, and Daniel was reunited with his Elizabeth.