Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/121

 The Versailles troops confined themselves to a defensive attitude, having had no intention at this time to march on Paris. They were satisfied at stopping the offensive movement of the battalions of the Commune, which had attempted in every direction to force a passage to Versailles.

The fire on Chatillon having produced but little effect, the Communist generals adopted another plan, namely, to turn the position by Clamart and Bagneux, instead of attacking in front; but this movement also failed, as at night the regular troops still held the strong positions of Chatillon and Meudon, which kept up during the day a continuous artillery fire on the forts of Vanves and Issy. Thus the march on Versailles proved a complete failure, as, after three days' fighting, the troops of the insurgents were thrown back on Paris, and the regular army held the three positions which commanded the road to Versailles, viz., Mont Valérien, the Château of Meudon, and the plateau of Chatillon. Of the three columns of attack, the first directed on Rueil by Mont Valérien, was dispersed on the first day; the other two, sent by Chatillon and Sevre, were effectually checked on the two following days.

General Duval was killed the first day at Chatillon, and his colleague, General Henry, captured and sent to Versailles. The Versailles journals spoke very highly of the heroic manner of the former's death.

About this time the great desire in life among the better class of young and middle-aged men was to get out of the city, produced by the following proclamation of General Cluseret:

"Considering the patriotic reclamations of a large number of National Guards who are anxious, although married, to share in the honor of defending their municipal inde