Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/111

 but the shot was found to be not of the right calibre, so that the guns were useless. Fort Issy replied with considerable vigor, and in a short time a fire of musketry became general from Meudon to Chatillon, where a second column attempted to gain Versailles by the road through Clamart and Velizy.

The first battalions, engaged towards Meudon, had, however, started too early and in too small numbers, and were in a very short time completely disorganized. At 8 o'clock reinforcements arrived and raised the number of the insurgents to 20,000 men, with thirty-six guns. They re-formed ranks by degrees, and again assumed the offensive. Scattered bands concealed in the woods, in gardens, behind walls, and in the old Prussian trenches, kept up a desultory fire on the regular troops, who continued to increase in numbers as they advanced, and eventually became masters of the ground. But towards four o'clock new reinforcements having been sent to the insurgents, who had fallen back on the village of Issy, the latter resumed the offensive, and advanced in their turn to scale the heights of Meudon. In this attack they gave proof of the greatest amount of courage and personal daring; but the Versailles troops were in admirable order and admirably commanded, and numbers were compelled to give way before discipline. For the second time they were driven back behind the fortress of Issy, exasperated beyond all bounds at their defeat, putting to death wounded men whom they found on the field of battle. Meudon and Issy kept up an artillery duel more or less violent until seven o'clock. The ambulance service had not been prepared, and the wounded were not all brought in until late in the night. Until four in the afternoon the gates were closed to all who wished to enter, but after that hour the different battalions and fugitives entered the city pell-mell.

The column commanded by General Eudes (a liberated