Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/178

 silent, on account of the distance of the barricades from each other. A short engagement occurred in the direction of Levallois, which turned to the advantage of the regulars.

The Versailles troops opened during the day a new battery near the island of the Grande Jatte, and sent some shells to the Porte Bineau, which had been spared until then, although guns were mounted there. From noon to three in the afternoon the district of the Ternes received from two to three shells per minute.

The establishment of insurgent batteries at Levallois and Clichy had placed these villages in an unfortunate situation, as the cannon of the Chateau Bécon and the redoubt of Gennevilliers in returning the fire had crushed them with shells. Some of these projectiles had even reached as far as the ramparts. Most of the inhabitants were obliged to take refuge in the city. An attack was made during the day on the Park of Neuilly, by order of Dombrowski. Two battalions advanced along the road at double-quick, took three barricades by escalade, and planted red flags among the stones, in high delight at their easy victory. Onward they rushed, intoxicated with success, until they arrived at the park wall, when suddenly a murderous fire was poured upon them from the mouths of a row of Gatling guns, which showered such a continuous and merciless hail of bullets upon the unprotected throng as only that terrible engine can inflict. They fled in wild disorder, leaving the road literally piled with dead, only to find at the furthermost barricade a company of their own men, who stood with bayonets fixed to check their flight. Thus driven forward again, they recoiled once more from a renewed volley; and then commenced a panic-stricken rout which no human power could control. They ran from gate to gate clamoring for admittance, which was persistently refused, and at length forced their