Page:The Siege of London - Posteritas - 1885.djvu/74

62 destroyed. In the course of the sixth week, the invaders received large reinforcements, as the reserves from Dover were moved up to the metropolis. They, therefore, began to display more activity, and nearly the whole of South London fell into their hands, and a bombardment of the Tower was at once commenced. A lofty earthwork had been erected in the Green Park, and, as this committed terrible execution amongst the besiegers, a desperate attempt was made to silence it; and such a hurricane of shells beat upon it that it became untenable; and the British Guards, with five other battalions of infantry forming its garrison, marched out of it one morning at an early hour, but they remained near it with a strong force of field artillery, which had been sent to join them. The Tower had at the same time been reduced to ruins, and could no longer be held, and now the French made a simultaneous attack on all the defenders' positions. Hammersmith was carried, and a strong force was sent to seize the Green Park fort, but was at once attacked by its former defenders, and a battle began in Hyde Park. The French were immediately reinforced by two divisions of infantry, with cavalry, and artillery; while the British received a large accession of strength both by troops and townspeople, well armed and full of enthusiasm, and it became evident that the final struggle was to be fought out in the historical park.