The Insurrection in Paris | Page 4

above
Montretout to look at the Fort firing. She followed up this admirable
summary of recent military operations by asking me whether it was not
amazing that somebody could not "invent" a means to put a stop to this
Civil War. I think the whole world must concur with this poor old
woman. It is always the same repetition that is certain, and it is so to
even a greater degree than she was aware of. Not only is the
cannonading the same repetition, but the game of taking positions,
giving them up and retaking them, to lose or abandon them once more,
has been the night work of the last week. Except it may be by treason,
or by the Commune falling to pieces, they are not nearer a march on
Paris than they were three weeks ago. I won't say a month ago, because
then the work could have been done by a few thousand good troops. A
non-official organ of the Government now tells us to be confident,
because "unless in the case of such accidents as one cannot suppose, or
of unforeseen surprises, some weeks will be sufficient to bring to an end
the necessary but sad entreprise of the attack on Paris!" The same paper

is of opinion that only "some months" will have elapsed before order is
restored in the capital. It thinks the Journal Officiel ridiculously
sanguine, because the latter says, "our works of approach advance with
a rapidity which elicits the admiration of all men of art, and which
promises to France a speedy end of its trials, and to Paris a deliverance
from the horrible tyrants who oppress it." Perhaps it is because the
artillerists and other military men whom I meet are not "men of art,"
but certainly I cannot find that any of them take so bright a view of the
position. I have just spoken with a very distinguished foreign officer
who has seen the position here and who has been every where to look
at the Insurgent side. He tells me that at the batteries outside the city he
saw some very good men, but that, taken as a whole, the National
Guards within the city are the most miserable lot he ever saw under
arms. All the barricades are admirably made as to workmanship, but
there is not one of them that could not be taken by troops approaching
from streets at angles with the points at which those obstructions are
placed. The Place Vendôme is "a rat-trap," and the Insurgent chiefs
take good care not to make it their own Head-Quarters. The gallant
gentleman to whom I refer believes that if the troops once got inside
the enceinte, the insurrection would utterly collapse; but if the military
confine themselves to the operations in which they are now engaged it
will be a considerable time before Paris gives in. Such is the report of a
competent and impartial authority. Rumours of the most contradictory
character are rife from morning till night in the open air lobby of the
Assembly--the Rue des Réservoirs. Deputies who "ought to know
better" circulate very absurd canards; but, as remarks a local print,
"Que voulez-vous? On s'ennuie, il faut bien passer le temps!" In my last
letter of Thursday night I stated that the affair at Moulin Saquet was a
repetition of that at the Clamart Station. I find to-day a contradiction of
the statement that insurgents were butchered at Moulin Saquet. It is true,
nevertheless. The Commune, wishing, no doubt, to keep the whole
truth from their followers fearing its disheartening effect, state enough
for their purpose, which is to represent the Versailles Government as
assassins. It says that 15 of the National Guards were killed with knives.
The fact is as I stated it. The redoubt was taken by surprise, and the
soldiers gave no quarter. The number I gave as that of the wretched
men killed by the bayonet was 450. I was under the mark. In his report

of the affair General Cissey says,--"Two hundred insurgents were left
dead on the spot. We have taken many insurgent officers and 300
prisoners and cannon." The Commune alleges that the redoubt fell into
the hands of the Versailles troops by means of treason. In this instance I
dare say the cry of "Nous sommes trahis!" is not far from the truth. The
unfortunate garrison were asleep when the troops entered, the sentinels
having, as is alleged, fled, when they found the enemy was upon them.
There were 800 men in the redoubt, and before they could prepare any
effective resistance the massacre was effected. Now, after all this
slaughter and capture of prisoners and guns, Moulin Saquet is again in
the hands of the Insurgents. The Commune boasts that the National