THE COLTON PAPERS. I 1.7 



us, that, even in these tried and faithful adherents to royalty, a 

 struggle between their duty as soldiers and their feelings as citizens 

 had commenced. 



It was about this period that two thousand troops, principally com- 

 posed of the infantry and cavalry of the Garde Royale, took up a 

 formidable position on the Place de la Bastille. 



No sooner had they taken their ground than a very brisk dis- 

 charge of musketry echoed from their ranks, accompanied at in- 

 tervals of three or four minutes by the report of cannon, which, being 

 loaded with canister and grape-shot, committed great havoc among 

 the people. Numbers fell on all sides; for in this particular quarter 

 the populace were badly armed, and had little but their invincible 

 courage to support them. They were thus obliged slowly to retire, 

 until they arrived at the Carrefour de Reuilly. Here the column of 

 troops from whom they were retreating received an additional rein- 

 forcement, of one battalion and two pieces of cannon, from the 

 chateau of Vincennes. The fusillade continued to be very destruc- 

 tive in the Rue de Charonne : many fell victims at this spot. The 

 houses forming the corners of the streets opposite the fountain were 

 drilled with balls, and there was scarcely any glass left whole in the 

 windows. It was in the vicinity of the fountain that the citizens of 

 this quarter offered the greatest resistance ; while some fired upon 

 the military from the streets, others attacked them from the win- 

 dows, throwing down upon them stones, logs of wood, and even 

 furniture every thing, in short, that could be converted into a 

 missile or a weapon : furor arma ministrat. This column of troops, 

 thus obstinately and desperately opposed, at length received a check, 

 and were compelled to retire in some confusion to their former po- 

 sition on the Place de la Bastille. This took place between two and 

 three o'clock on the afternoon of Wednesday, and the firing in this 

 quarter ceased for a time. About five o'clock this same detach ment 

 again put itself in the order of march, and recommenced its attack 

 upon the Faubourg St. Antoine. During this second fusillade, which 

 lasted about three-quarters of an hour, many citizens were killed or 

 wounded. At six o'clock this column of the troops was again obliged 

 to retire to the Place de la Bastille : here the soldiers, worn out with 

 fatigue, and harassed from want of sleep and sustenance, were making 

 preparations for their bivouac, but at this moment the most pressing 

 orders were despatched to them, commanding them to repair with all 

 possible expedition to the quarter of the Greve. This sudden move- 

 ment produced a sensation of astonishment and delight in the sur- 

 rounding masses of the people. It clearly explained to them that 

 their fellow-citizens had obtained some important successes, even in 

 the centre of Paris. 



From this moment (that is to say about eight o'clock on the 

 evening of Wednesday) all firing, patrolling of troops, and even 

 skirmishing in the streets or boulevards, had ceased in this quarter 

 of the city. The theatre of strife was removed however only to be 

 renewed on a different site, and if possible with greater glory. The 

 citizens of this quarter, in the ebullition of their triumph, committed 

 not a single act of revenge or assassination. They even so far re- 



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