Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/335

 cannon the Place de l'Europe, and established a barricade under the enemy's fire, which soon silenced the guns of their opponents. Soon, by a combined movement, these troops, with those established in the College Chaptal, rushed on the barricade and carried it rapidly amidst a perfect rain of bullets and bombs.

The Federals then retreated towards the barricade at the junction of the Avenues Clichy and Saint Ouen, but the soldiers by a rapid detour, stopped them on the way and took many prisoners, while the others escaped into the side-streets leading towards the cemetery of Montmartre.

A little before this successful attack, another column had taken possession, at about nine in the morning, of the Mairie of Batignolles, which had been abandoned by M. Malon, member of the Commune. He had taken refuge at Montmartre, directing all the munitions to the same place.

It was now that the investing march on Montmartre was begun which, by the promptitude and ability with which it was executed, saved the city from so much misery.

During the attack of the Place Clichy, a column skirting the streets Cardinet and Balagny executed a flank movement, taking Montmartre in the rear, while the troops of General Ladmirault attacked the barricade of the Rue Lepic and the boulevard de Clichy.

This was one of the most formidable of all the barricades, both from its position and the manner in which it was constructed. It was composed of two lines at right angles, one crossing the Boulevard de Clichy, and the other the entrance to the Rue Lepic (formerly Rue de l'Empereur), which mounts to the Heights of Montmartre. Five 12-pounders defend the latter, which alone remained in the power of the insurgents, raking with their fire the