Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/356

 While the combatants were thus cannonading each other with violence, several companies of the Line, advancing along the roofs of the houses from the Rue St. Lazare to the Rue de la Victoire, and from there to the Rue de Provence, approached the barricade, and firing down upon the insurgents, obliged them finally to retreat.

During the previous night an attempt had been made to erect a barricade at the corner of the Rues de la Victoire and Taitbout, but this was not seriously defended, and soon fell into the hands of the troops.

At six o'clock the fighting near the Chaussée d'Antin was entirely finished, and a crowd was soon collected in the streets, eagerly looking for traces of the combat.

The soldiers were everywhere cheered with the greatest enthusiasm. Refreshments and wine in abundance were pressed upon them, the inhabitants seeming unable sufficiently to show their great joy at their deliverance.

After a short period of rest, following the successes in the Chaussée d'Antin, the troops prepared to attack the Place Vendôme. Batteries were established on the Place de l'Opera, which fired at regular intervals during the night, doing considerable damage to the houses in the Rue de la Paix. Towards morning, finding their fire unanswered, they dashed forward, and mounting the barricade, found the Place Vendôme almost entirely abandoned.

An advance was also made toward the Bourse, by the Rue du 4 Septembre, in order to flank the Hotel de Ville on the right. Artillery was brought to bear on the barricade which guarded the end of the street opening on the square, and toward morning the barricade was carried by assault.

The following order was found on the body of an in