Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/334



Attack on the Place Clichy—The Rue Lepic—Manner of attack—Assault of the Moulin-de-la-Galette—Volunteers of the Seine—Capture of Montmartre—The barricades of the exterior boulevards taken—Boulevard Magenta—Death and burial of Dombrowski—Place de la Concorde—Chapelle Expiatoire carried by the troops—Fighting in the Boulevard Malesherbes—Places de la Madeleine and Concorde taken—Conflagration in the Rue Royale—Persons smothered in the flames—Ministry of Marine—Ministry of Finances—Conflagration of the Tuileries—The Louvre saved—Barricade of the Place de l'Opéra—Church of the Trinity—Chaussée d'Antin—Place Vendôme taken—The Bourse saved—Bank of France bravely defended—Cruelty of the insurgents—Combat at Montparnasse and in the Rue de Rennes—Defeat of the insurgents—The Croix Rouge taken—Place Saint-Sulpice—Conflagrations on the left bank—Montrouge—Frightful slaughter at the Church of Saint Pierre—Government circular—The Expiatory Chapel—Barricades erected during the night—Assassination of Chaudey—His funeral—Attempt made by several Communists to escape.

At early dawn on Tuesday, the troops attacking the 9th Arrondissement were directed against the New Opera, the Rue de la Chausée-d'Antin, the Place de la Trinité, and the barricade at the Place Clichy, driving towards these different points the Federals who had not yet taken refuge there.

The attack of the barricade of the Place Clichy was the first serious movement of the day. Early in the morning a violent combat of artillery was begun between the Parc Moriceaux and Montmartre, while the batteries placed in front of the barricade defended the approach by the Place de l'Europe. But the patriotic energy of the soldiers triumphed over these obstacles. Towards seven o'clock a part of the corps of General Clinchant, headed by the 3d regiment of the line, Colonel Bréard, crossed with their