Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/433



"The fort of Montrouge and that of Hautes-Bruyères are ours We are masters of the Pantheon, of the Halle aux Vins, and all the neighborhood. The Barrière-d'Italie only remains for us to take. I shall close and occupy all the gates as far as the Seine. Advance your troops and occupy Choisy-le-Roi, l'Hay, and neighborhood. Strengthen the investment; let no one leave the city."

The soldiers had, in fact, after a few hours' repose, necessitated by the terrible struggle of the previous day, continued their advance at an early hour.

After the capture of the Barrière d'Enfer and Montrouge by the troops on the previous day, the insurgents had established themselves in force (from 7,000 to 8,000) on a height called the Butte-aux-Cailles. Their artillery commanded the quarter of Montrouge, which they covered with shells, while their sharp-shooters, descending into the valley, made an offensive demonstration against the regular troops, who found themselves thus arrested in their movement. They held good, however, during the evening and throughout the night. On Thursday morning they were reinforced, and a battery was established behind the Sceaux Railway, which covered the Butte-aux-Cailles with its fire; at the same time the soldiers advanced to the attack in front, and, after a most deadly struggle, carried the position.

The operations were then continued in the direction of the Gobelins, the troops advancing through the streets of the Faubourg Saint-Marceau. The resistance was prolonged during several hours, though without much energy on the part of the insurrection. The population in this quarter, composed in great part of rag-pickers, especially in the Rue Mouffetard, had, forming a curious exception, little sympathy with Communist ideas, either from a sort