Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/140

 during the action, stated that the situation presented no gravity; that Paris could preserve its confidence; that the attack of the Versailles forces, which had been expected for two days, would not succeed.

A despatch from the commander of Fort Issy, dated one o'clock, April 13th, states that the Versailles troops made three successive attacks, but were repulsed with heavy loss. The plateau of Chatillon, he wrote, was covered with dead which the enemy could not remove. A similar report was also sent from Fort Vanves. There the troops appear to have attacked the insurgents in the trenches. General Cluseret, Delegate of War, issued the following official report of the engagement on the evening of the 11th:

"The enemy, profiting by the obscurity of the night, unmasked all his batteries, and attempted a violent attack on the gates of the southwest, but was repulsed with disgrace. Our losses are two wounded and one killed (there were seldom more than that number killed in any action, according to the Commune) as far as is known at present. In this nocturnal assault—an operation always difficult to be repelled by very young troops—there was not a moment of hesitation, and the Enfants de Paris behaved most bravely. I mention in the order of the day the 208th and 179th battalions on account of their ardor."

The official Journal of the Commune, commenting on the attack, says:

"The cannonade of Monday evening against the forts of the south was as useless as it was furious. The attack was vigorously repulsed, and the fire of the enemy soon ceased. Much noise and little work; but certainly no small loss for the assailants. The Ministry of War is of