Part 25 (2/2)
”The National Guard will defend them!”
”Vive la Reforme!” shouted the people.
The National Guard and the cuira.s.siers united. The officer, chagrined, turned back to his men and vociferated in tones of thunder:
”Wheel! Forward!”
And the whole body resumed its march down the Boulevard.
An hour afterwards a still larger body of troops, Munic.i.p.al Guards mounted and on foot, cuira.s.siers and infantry of the Line, came down the Boulevard and made a half movement on the Rue Lepelletier, but, seeing the hostile att.i.tude of the National Guard, continued their march amid shouts of ”Vive la Reforme!” ”Vive la Garde Nationale!” ”Vive la Ligne!”
Twice, within an hour afterwards, the same thing occurred.
It was plain that the National Guard fraternized with the people.
The 3d Legion deputed their colonel, M. Besson, to demand of the King reform and a change of Ministry. The colonel presented the memorial to General Jaqueminot, who promised to place it in the Royal hands.
The 4th Legion marched to the Chamber of Deputies and presented a pet.i.tion for reform.
Col. Lemercier, of the 10th, arrested a man for shouting ”Vive la Reforme!” The man was liberated by his own troops, with shouts of ”Vive la Reforme!” The colonel withdrew.
The cavalry legion, the 13th, in like manner repudiated Col. Montalivet.
The Munic.i.p.al Guard was ordered to disarm the 3d Legion. Both advanced--bayonets were crossed--blood was about to flow. At that moment Col. Textorix, of the National Guard, rushed up and exclaimed:
”Brothers, will you slay brothers?”
The effect was electrical. The muskets were instantly shouldered and the combatants separated.
All over Paris the same scenes took place, with a few exceptions.
”Vive la Republique!” cried Ledru Rollin to Albert, who was hurrying down the Rue Lepelletier, at about noon.
”Vive la Republique!” was the hearty response. ”What of the National Guard?”
”The Guard fraternizes with the people,” replied Ledru Rollin. ”What of the blouses and the barricades?”
”Last night, the barricades of yesterday were swept from the streets, and even the material of which to build them also, the pavements only excepted; yet, at dawn this morning, the whole s.p.a.ce between the Quartier Saint-Martin des Champs, the Mont de Piete and the Temple, and all the smaller streets were choked with barricades.”
”And they were at once a.s.sailed?”
”By the troops of the Line, the Munic.i.p.al Guard and the cha.s.seurs of Vincennes.”
”Who were repulsed?”
”With most obstinate bravery. At the Rue Rambuteau, the 69th Regiment was three times driven back; also at the corner of the Rue St. Denis and the Rue de Tracy. In the Rue Philippeaux a ball pa.s.sed through the face of a soldier of the 21st of the Line infantry, and then through the head of a voltigeur behind him. Sixteen soldiers fell in the attack on the barricade of the Rue Rambuteau. A blouse pointed a pistol at an officer of the Munic.i.p.al Guard; the pistol hung fire, and the officer pa.s.sed his sword through his a.s.sailant's body. From this you can infer that we have had close fighting.”
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