Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/12

to Advance—The 88th Regiment of the Line fraternizes
with the Insurgents—Withdrawal of the Troops who
remain faithful—They are fired upon by the Insurgents. 15


CHAPTER II.

Elation of the National Guards—Erection of new Barricades—Battery
surrendered by its Escort to the Insurgents—Arrest
of Generals Lecomte and Thomas—Their Assassination—Brave
attitude of the murdered Officers—Two
Aides-de-Camp of General Lecomte narrowly escape the
same fate—The Central Committee assume the direction
of Affairs—Excitement at Montrouge—Barricades erected
in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine—Gendarmes dismounted
and disarmed—Proclamation of the Government—Events
at the Hotel de Ville—All Access to the Buttes Chaumont
forbidden by the National Guards—Two Regiments of
the Line Surrounded and Disarmed—The Insurgents take
possession of the Place Vendome—Evacuation of the 11th
Arrondissement—Meeting of Paris Deputies, Mayors, and
Adjoints—Concessions proposed to the Government and
accepted, but withdrawn after news received of the
Murder of Generals Lecomte and Thomas—The Central
Committee take possession of the Hotel de Ville—Arrest
of General Chanzy—Official Journal seized by the Insurgents—Proclamation
of the Central Committee—City
entirely abandoned by the Troops—Public Buildings
occupied by the Insurrection—Decree for the Elections—Communication
cut off with the Provinces—The Government
Officials summoned to Versailles—The Prussians
return to St. Denis—Their Despatch to M. Jules Favre—His
Reply—Great Military Preparations—Sitting of the
Assembly—The Department of the Seine declared in a
state of siege—Children of General Lecomte adopted by
the Country—Prussian Communication to the Central
Committee—Reply of Paschal Grousset. 33