Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/455

 *rondissement as a detachment of the regular troops which had deserted to the cause of the Commune. These sad trickeries succeeded but partially, and instead of raising the confidence of the National Guards, helped to weaken it.

But the Federals at the same time drew the obstinacy of a desperate resistance from the bitter knowledge of their utter ruin, and from the perils which everywhere surrounded them. In this they were encouraged by a number of strangers—refuse of all the nations in Europe—of whom the Communal cause had made shameful auxiliaries. These men, convicts and exiles, had nothing to fear, because they had nothing to hope. They sought only to drag down with them in a common ruin those whose conduct, guilty as it was, could yet find some excuse.

On his side, Marshal de MacMahon, assured as he was of success, did not wish to hazard anything by hastening his operations; and he desired, at the same time, to save the blood of his soldiers by moderating their action.

These different causes prolonged the struggle until the afternoon of Sunday, the 28th, without, however, its being interrupted for a moment; the positions still to be carried presenting so many difficulties.

The defences of the Boulevard Magenta have been already described, together with the capture of three out of four of its barricades by the regular troops. The fourth, which was the key of the position, was situated a few yards back of No. 6, of which the insurgents retained possession, and through which they communicated with the Passage du Wauxhall, where they had their reserves, and also with the Rue des Marais-Saint-Martin, which conducts to the barracks, the Rues Magnan, Dieu, and De l'Entrepot.

When the action was about commencing, the insurgents informed the inhabitants of this house of their in