Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/115

 on his way to the Hotel de Ville, announcing to the crowd that Flourens had entered Versailles at the head of 40,000 men—that they had captured one hundred deputies, and M. Thiers was a prisoner!

Some one suggested that "there were not over 20,000 men who went out this way."

"Where did he get the men?"

"Oh, he has them!" and "General Bergeret fought like a tiger. He had two horses killed under him."

"Before him you mean," shouted one of the crowd; "as he went out in a victoria."

That portion of the advancing column of insurgents which had passed Valerien under the command of Flourens amounted to 5,000 men. Accelerated considerably in their motions by the retreat of the larger portion of their troops, they arrived at Rueil, which was guarded by only a small post of cavalry, which at once fell back in the direction of Versailles. The National Guards spread through the town, some occupying the barracks, others entering the wine-shops and private houses; the bread and provision shops were requisitioned, the dealers receiving tickets of the Commune in payment for their wares. Barricades were constructed in the streets and across the wide avenue in the direction of St. Germain; scouts were thrown out along the Seine, and Flourens took up his headquarters near the railway station. They were, however, suddenly attacked by some detachments of mounted gendarmes and regiments of the line, and defeated on every side. The barricade in the direction of St. Germain, which was armed with two pieces of cannon and strongly defended, was captured by the gendarmes sword in hand. They took 200 prisoners; among them there were several soldiers—deserters—who were at once shot, and the National Guards were conducted to Versailles as prisoners.

At 4 o'clock of this eventful day, as the mounted