PAGE
PROLOGUE.
HOW THE PRUSSIANS GOT PARIS AND THE RURALS FRANCE[1]
CHAPTER 1.
FIRST ATTACKS OF THE COALITION AGAINST PARIS—THE BATTALIONS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD FEDERALISE AND SEIZE THEIR CANNON—THE PRUSSIANS ENTER PARIS[58]
CHAPTER II.
THE COALITION OPENS FIRE ON PARIS—THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE CONSTITUTES ITSELF—M. THIERS ORDERS THE ASSAULT[69]
CHAPTER III.
THE EIGHTEENTH OF MARCH[78]
CHAPTER IV.
THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE CONVOKES THE ELECTORS—THE MAYORS OF PARIS AND DEPUTIES OF THE SEINE TURN AGAINST IT[88]
CHAPTER V.
THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE AFFIRMS ITSELF, REORGANISES THE PUBLIC SERVICES, AND HOLDS PARIS[101]
CHAPTER VI.
THE MAYORS, THE DEPUTIES, THE JOURNALISTS, THE ASSEMBLY COMBINE AGAINST PARIS—THE REACTION MARCHES ON THE PLACE VENDÔME, AND IS PUNISHED[108]
CHAPTER VII.
THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE TRIUMPHS OVER ALL OBSTACLES AND CONSTRAINS THE MAYORS TO CAPITULATE[116]
CHAPTER VIII.
PROCLAMATION OF THE COMMUNE[126]
CHAPTER IX.
THE COMMUNE AT LYONS, ST. ETIENNE, AND CREUZOT[131]
CHAPTER X.
THE COMMUNE AT MARSEILLES, TOULOUSE, AND NARBONNE[142]
CHAPTER XI.
THE COUNCIL OF THE COMMUNE WAVERS FROM ITS FIRST SITTINGS—THE MAYORS AND ADJUNCTS ELECTED DESERT EN MASSE[153]
CHAPTER XII.
SORTIE OF THE THIRD APRIL—THE PARISIANS ARE REPULSED EVERYWHERE—FLOURENS AND DUVAL ARE KILLED—THE VERSAILLESE MASSACRE SOME PRISONERS[162]
CHAPTER XIII.
THE COMMUNE IS VANQUISHED AT MARSEILLES AND NARBONNE[171]
CHAPTER XIV.
THE GREAT RESOURCES OF THE COMMUNE—THE GREAT WEAKNESS OF THE COUNCIL—NOMINATION OF CLUSERET—DECREE CONCERNING THE HOSTAGES—THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE—THE BANK[182]
CHAPTER XV.
THE FIRST COMBATS OF NEUILLY AND ASNIÈRES—ORGANISATION AND DEFEAT OF THE CONCILIATORS[190]
CHAPTER XVI.
THE MANIFESTO OF THE COUNCIL—THE COMPLIMENETARY ELECTIONS OF THE 16TH APRIL SHOW A MINORITY WITHIN THE COUNCIL—FIRST DISPUTES—THE GERMS OF DEFEAT[199]
CHAPTER XVII.
OUR PARISIENNES—SUSPENSION OF ARMS FOR THE EVACUATION OF NEUILLY—THE ARMY OF VERSAILLES AND THAT OF PARIS[207]
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE PUBLIC SERVICES—FINANCE—WAR—POLICE—EXTERIOR—JUSTICE—EDUCATION—LABOR AND EXCHANGE[217]
CHAPTER XIX.
THE FREEMASONS JOIN THE COMMUNE—THE FIRST EVACUATION OF THE PART OF ISSY—CREATION OF THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY[236]
CHAPTER XX.
ROSSEL REPLACES CLUSERET—THE RIVALRIES—THE DEFENCE OF THE FORT OF ISSY[246]
CHAPTER XXI.
PARIS IS BOMBARDED—THE FORT OF ISSY SUCCUMBS—THE COUNCIL ELECTS A NEW COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY—ROSSEL FLIES[254]
CHAPTER XXII.
THE CONSPIRACIES AGAINST THE COMMUNE[265]
CHAPTER XXIII.
M. THIERS' POLICY WITH REGARD TO THE PROVINCES—THE EXTREME LEFT BETRAYS PARIS[271]
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE IMPOTENCE OF THE SECOND COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY—EVACUATION OF THE FORT OF VANVES AND OF THE VILLAGE OF ISSY—THE MANIFESTO OF THE MINORITY—THE EXPLOSION IN THE AVENUE RAPP— FALL OF THE VENDÔME COLUMN[283]
CHAPTER XXV.
PARIS ON THE EVE OF DEATH[293]
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE VERSAILLESE ENTER PARIS ON SUNDAY, 21ST MAY, AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON—THE COUNCIL OF THE COMMUNE DISSOLVES[304]
CHAPTER XXVII.
MONDAY 22ND—THE VERSAILLESE INVADE THE QUARTERS OF THE EAST—PARIS RISES[313]
CHAPTER XXVIII.
TUESDAY 23RD—MONTMARTRE IS TAKEN—THE WHOLESALE MASSACRE—WE LOSE GROUND—PARIS ON FIRE—THE LAST NIGHT OF THE HÔTEL-DE-VILLE[326]
CHAPTER XXIX.
WEDNESDAY 24TH—THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL EVACUATE THE HÔTEL-DE-VILLE—THE PANTHÉON IS TAKEN—THE VERSAILLESE SHOOT THE FEDERALS BY HUNDREDS—THE FEDERALS SHOOT SIX HOSTAGES—THE NIGHT OF THE CANNON[339]
CHAPTER XXX.
THURSDAY 25TH—THE WHOLE LEFT BANK FALLS INTO THE HANDS OF THE TROOPS—DELESCLUZE DIES—THE BRASSARDIERS STIMULATE THE MASSACRE—THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL EVACUATE THE MAIRIE OF THE ELEVENTH ARRONDISSEMENT[353]
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE RESISTANCE CENTRES IN BELLEVILLE—FRIDAY, FORTH-EIGHT HOSTAGES ARE SHOT IN THE RUE HAXO—SATURDAY 27TH, THE WHOLE TWENTIETH ARRONDISSEMENT IS INVADED—THE PÈRE LACHAISE IS TAKEN—SUNDAY 28TH, THE BATTLE ENDS AT ELEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING—MONDAY 29TH, THE FORT OF VINCENNES IS SURRENDERED[365]
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE VERSAILLESE FURY—THE SLAUGHTER-HOUSES—THE PREVOTAL COURTS—THE DEATH OF VARLIN—THE BURIALS[382]
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE CONVOYS OF PRISONERS—THE ORANGERIE—THE ARRESTS—SATORY—THE DENUNCIATORS—THE PRESS—THE LEFT INSULTS THE VANQUISHED— DEMONSTRATIONS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES[395]
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE PONTOONS—THE FORTS—THE PRISONS—THE FIRST TRIALS[408]
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE COURTS-MARTIAL—THE EXECUTIONS— BALANCE-SHEET OF THE CONDEMNATIONS[424]
CHAPTER XXXVI.
NEW CALEDONIA—EXILE—BALANCE-SHEET OF BOURGEOIS VENGEANCE—THE LIBERAL CHAMBER AND THE AMNESTY[445]
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APPENDIX[467]

HISTORY OF THE COMMUNE.

PROLOGUE.

"Osons, ce mot renferme toute la politique de cette heure."—Rapport de St. Just à la Convention.

HOW THE PRUSSIANS GOT PARIS AND THE RURALS FRANCE.

August 9, 1870.—In six days the Empire has lost three battles. Douai, Frossart, MacMahon have allowed themselves to be isolated, surprised, crashed. Alsace is lost, the Moselle laid bare. The dumbfoundered Ministry has convoked the Chamber. Ollivier, in dread of a demonstration, denounces if beforehand as "Prussian." But since eleven in the morning an immense agitated crowd occupies the Place de la Concorde, the quays, and surrounds the Corps Législatif.

Paris is waiting for the mot d'ordre of the deputies of the Left. Since the announcement of the defeats they have become the only moral authority. Bourgeoisie, workingmen, all rally round them. The workshops have turned their army into the streets, and at the head of the different groups one sees men of tried energy.

The Empire totters—it has now only to fall. The troops drawn up before the Corps Législatif are greatly excited, ready to turn tail in spite of the decorated and grumbling Marshal Baraguay d'Hilliers. The people cry, "To the frontier." Officers answer aloud, "Our place is not here."