The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-05 00:00:00

DESPERATE FIGHTING

AT THE
BARRICADES.

PARIS, THURSDAY, 6 P.H.
I proceed to give you at the latest hour possible
the summary of this day. There has been a great
deal of fighting, chiefly on the Boulevard near the
Porten St. Denis and St. Martin, where two strong
barricades were erected. These were attacked by an
overpowering force at half-past three. After severe
lighting they were both taken. Several other
barricades, erected in various parts of Paris, have ,
been carried by the troops with comparative ease.
I saw the barricade at the Porte St. Denis building,
and afterwards with great difficulty penetrated
thither again after it was taken, so that you may
accept these facts for certain. Between the Porte
St. Denis and the Rue Montmartre the Boulevard
was one wreck and waste, not a soul to be seen any-
where, the windows all smashed, and the pavement
glittering with glass. The cannon had done their work
of destruction on several houses. I do not suppose
that many persons could have been killed, for I saw
neither any dead body nor any trace of blood. There
was a barricade in the Rue Montmartre. It is now
a quarter after six, and all is quiet. A friend tells
me it is impossible to penetrate to the general poet.
Hearing at noon that barricades were forming on
the Boulevard, opposite the Porte St. Denis, I walked
up in that direction, and penetrated as far as the spot.
The barricade was already half formed. The pave-
ment was torn up in every direction. The people at
work were few in comparison with the immense
concourse of people looking on. There were not
more than tau blouses among them. The rest were
all in coats, and looked of the class of clerks and
shopmen, with some ono or two of a more
determined and intelligent aspect directing.
In all there were not two hundred at work.
Some of these were tearing up the iron
railings near the Porte St. Denis. Others were up-
setting a diligence, which they filled with paving-
stones. All carts and carriages of every description
were seized, and went to the completion of this ugly
structure. I was surprised to sec no people with
anus. The people had broken into the Court of the
Nlessagenes, near at hand, and wheeled out a suc-
cession of diligences, which they upset to form the
staple of the defensive work. The fighting men
were ready to grasp at any weapon, and the iron
railings seemed destined to be used as pikes.
A representative appeared mounted on this barri-
cade. and proceeded to read the placard I have
already mentioned as signed by Victor Hugo, as
chairman, and Schcelcher, as secretary, announcing
to the people the de'eheanee of the President, his
condemnation and outlawry by the Haute Cour
assembled at Rouen, and calling upon all people to
resist his usurped authority. When he had finished,
tho people gave a tremendous shout of " Vivo la
Republique
A similar barricade was erected opposite the Port
St. Martin, and others at the mouths of the streets
westward, to prevent the soldiers from circumvent-
ing the insurgents. All the houses in the neigh-
bourhood of the barricades were occupied by insur-
gents, as I was told, but I did not see their arms,
good store of which no doubt lay in the houses.
Not a soldier was visable in any direction. It seemed
evident that the work of the insurgents was allowed
to proceed designedly. On returning I found all the
serious people looking very grave indeed,and expecting
e sanguinary day of desperate conflict. On reaching the
Rue Vivienne, I saw one solitary company of
soldiers. These spread themselves across the boule-
vard and interdicted all further passage eastward.
All cars, cabs, and conveyances were turned back,
together with foot passengers. It appeared le be
the intention to isolate the insurgent quarters.
Shortly after I reached my. lodging on the Boulevard
des Capueines, from the windows of which one com-
mands the whole length of the western boulevards,'
I perceived at half-past two the first sign of
serious intentions on the part of the mili-
tary to march against the insurgents. First
came a squadron of lancers, with their horses
walking slowly, and the men so still in their saddles,
the little tricoloured flags at the end of their lances
scarcely waived. Two lancers, one of whom, quite
pale, with clenched teeth, looked very full of mis-
chief, rode with cocked pistols pointed upwards.
A whole regiment of lancers followed in squadrons,
while the crowd on the pathway maintained a
dead silence. A company of the line, in their
grey frocks, yellow worsted epaulettes, and
red trousers, marched next, with shouldered
muskets and fixed bayonets. A single line
of grenadiers followed, and then came a general with
his staff. A whole regiment of the line followed.
In the meantime I perceived that the lancers a-head
were pricking at groups on either aide of the slope
mounting. the Boulevard des Italians, and great was
the coursing of these small black swarms along the
broad pavement in consequence. All the Persian
blinds of the houses, as far as eye could reach, were
closed, and, it presently appeared, not without rea-
son. Still fresh columns of infantry rolled from
the direction of the Madeleine ; and last came
the artillery. When the general and his staff
reached the Chansee d'Antin, the mouth of which,
as well as of all other streets opening on the Boule-
vards, were occupied by piequets of lancers, a halt
was made. The cavalry wheeled half-round, and
drew up in line along the pavement, while the column
of infantry passed through them and marched up the
cleared boulevard. Meantime a battalion of brisk-
looking little fellows, in dark suits, who were in fact
the famous sharpshooters of Vincennes, marched be
hind, and dovetailed their lines alternately with those
of the regiment of infantry. The spectacle was
grand in the extreme. As far as eye could reach on
either hand stretched this imposing column; and
still when they moved forward fresh bayonets poured
from the west behind. The column, formed in order
of battle, marched on up the hill, while the Mae-
sears de Vincennes ran forward at the pas de
I charge. The crowd, which closed in after theme,
could get no further than the Chaussee
tin, from whence they gazed anxiously after
the troops, their sympathies being evidently
with the insurgents. Whenever a solitary orderly
gallopped down he was hooted. But wherever
quet of lancers was stationed these de
were very soon coerced by a charge, which mg lbs
whole band of spectators running down the Wad,
and taking refuge where they could.
Quarter-past 3, p.m.—A rush of people back t
1 wards the Madeleine, followed by a squadron of
lancers, who stop on the Boulevard des Relies%
where there is a-hot fight engaged, the troops firing
against the houses on both aides the way. The dis-
charge of musketry is incessant; and from the body
of the chasseurs beyond the lancers I see continued
flashes; but, as yet, few in answer from the houses.
The houses seem gniduallv silenced; an occasional
shot only is fired from the, troops.
4 p.m. Fresh firing on the Boulevard des
Italica'. The people rush back before the
lancers. Several altroupernesits of this descrip-
tion. The firing approaches close to our neigh-
bourhood, and discharges are directed against houses
Ile 1V asighbourhood of the Rue de la Pao.
CIVASTIR PAST SIX O'CLOCIS.
All is quiet. The boulevards, from the Madeleine
I. the Bastille are in possession of the soldiery. No
paring allowed there above Rue Vivienne. The
neighbourhood of the General Post strongly guarded.
No pairing allowed through the lower part of the
Rue Montmartre. People stand gloomily at the
emus of the streets, but make no domoustratim.
The upper part of the boulevards are very dark, the
the
lamp-pobosts having been torn down this maniac by

General Neumayer is said to he marching from the
north with four regiments.
P.S.—ln coming here to the post I saw a party
Dame
pullinga• up the iron railing of the Church Notre
Loreta.