Page:The Siege of London - Posteritas - 1885.djvu/71

Rh defence of the City had all along been felt to be extremely difficult against an army of any magnitude. The Tower had been turned into a first-class fortress, although the approach of an enemy by way of the Thames was an absolute impossibility, owing to the measures that had been taken to protect the great water-way. The Arsenal of Woolwich, and the great magazines in Plumstead Marshes were, therefore, safe and of immense advantage to the English. Dulwich, Hammersmith, Wormwood Scrubbs, and Kilburn were held by strong bodies of the defenders, who erected powerful earthworks in these places. It will thus be seen that the two armies were face to face, and almost touching each other. A complete investment by the French, however, was an impossibility without an army treble that at their disposal. But they had the advantage of being in possession of the Channel, and they blockaded the mouth of the Thames by a powerful fleet of light steamers and gunboats.

As soon as the French had taken up their positions a spirited attack was made simultaneously on Dulwich and Hammersmith, but the English were strongly intrenched, particularly at Dulwich, where an extensive earthwork, armed with heavy guns, had been erected. In each case the assailants were beaten back with heavy loss, and Dulwich was then subjected to a galling fire from the French camp on Sydenham heights. The beautiful college was totally destroyed, and the English suffered terribly. This fire was kept up for two days, when a second attack was made, and the garrison was driven out. The loss of this position was a great blow to the defending army, and at once gave the French an advantage which they were not slow to avail themselves of, and they succeeded after some desultory fighting in pushing their front to Battersea Park, where they at once intrenched themselves. Small steamers carrying heavy guns were sent up the Thames to try and dislodge them, but without effect. Chelsea and Vauxhall bridges were blown up by the English, and batteries were planted along the northern side of the Thames, and kept up a murderous fire on the park, which, however, was returned with disastrous effect, for that part of London was laid in ruins.