Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/359

 attack the barricades in the Rues Chateaudun, Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, and Drouot, whence the soldiers pushed forward to the Place Cadet by the Rue Lafayette and the Faubourg Montmartre. The barricade erected in the Rue Montmartre was carried the same night, as well as another built at the intersection of the Rues d'Aboukir and Petit-Carreau. Here the engagement was long and violent, and all the energy of the soldiers was required to carry the position. At the Place Cadet the resistance of the insurgents was equally desperate.

The battle was gradually approaching the headquarters of the insurgents; their despair and hatred increased as their hopes of success became diminished, and every day the contest assumed a more bloody and revengeful aspect.

At Montmartre, on the previous day, twelve unfortunate soldiers, who had been made prisoners and conducted there, had their two hands cut off at the wrists, when they were set at liberty.

Similar acts of cruelty were of frequent occurrence during the death-struggle of the Commune, which ended in exciting greatly the passions of the soldiers, and rendering them more cruel in their retaliation.

To non-combatants, however, they were lamb-like in their demeanor, being evidently well pleased with the joy and enthusiasm their arrival had created.

"On est content de nous voir, eh? les Parisiens?" a lignard would ask jocosely, too confident of what he would be answered to await any reply. While on the right bank of the river the troops were everywhere successful, the movements of General de Cissey were marked by equal energy and success.

The night between Monday and Tuesday had been relatively calm, but at eight in the morning two furious combats had begun at different points, which lasted throughout the entire day.