Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/273

 and luxurious foliage. Here were to be seen thousands of white tents in semicircular rows, the headquarters at the Longchamps race-course; the troops seen marching, and going through drill, had the appearance of a magnificent review, such as took place nearly two months later on the same spot, when 150,000 conquerors were reviewed before the same civil and military chiefs who now directed the active operations of the siege. The air, however, was rent by shrieking shells, and the ear pained with the continual sound of mitrailleuses and chassepots, and dreadful events were drawing near.

About the time at which the ex-Delegate of War disappeared from the scene, after having bade the Commune adieu in such a singular manner, a patriotic fête took place at Versailles, of which the entire population were spectators.

A cortège, composed of delegations from the different branches of the service which had assisted at the operations under Fort Issy, passed through the town. Their muskets, drums, and twenty-eight of the 109 cannon taken at Issy, were covered with flowers and foliage. The flags of the 5th, 99th, 94th, and 115th insurgent battalions were also carried in the procession.

At three o'clock the column arrived at the hotel of the Prefecture, clarions sounding and drums beating. The Chief of the Executive Power, accompanied by the General-in-Chief, received the deputation of chiefs on the steps of the hotel, and felicitated them on their great success. The troops responded by shouts for M. Thiers and Marshal de MacMahon. The cortège proceeded to the palace, where the soldiers were addressed by M. Leon de Malleville, Vice-President of the National Assembly, who warmly thanked them, in the name of France and her representatives. Marshal de MacMahon also issued the following order of the day to the army: