"Our soldiers carried, at four o'clock, the last positions occupied by the insurgents.
"To-day the struggle is finished; order, labor, and security will now revive.
"De Macmahon, Duc de Magenta,
"Marshal of France, Commander-in-Chief."
On the same day the Marshal addressed to the troops
the following order of the day, thanking them for the
efforts which they had made with so much courage during
this difficult contest:
"Soldiers and Sailors:—Your courage and devotion
have triumphed over all obstacles. After a siege of two
months, after a battle of eight days in the streets, Paris is
at last delivered. In tearing the city from the hands of
the wretches who had projected burning it to ashes, you
have preserved it from complete ruin; you have given it
back to France.
"Soldiers and Sailors:—The entire country applauds the success of your patriotic efforts; and the National Assembly, by which it is represented, has accorded you the recompense most worthy of you.
"It has been declared by a unanimous vote that the armies of sea and land have merited well of the country."
As early as the 22d of May—in fact, at the news of the
entrance of the troops into Paris—the Assembly had
unanimously given this noble testimony of gratitude and
encouragement to the soldiers. By a just and delicate
sentiment, they had associated the Chief of the Executive
Power in the thanks which they addressed to the army in
the name of France. M. Thiers and the army had equally
merited well of the country. Thanks to their patient and
resolute zeal, Paris and France were restored to each
