The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-25

public has hope the empire has hope. since both
have their basis on popular sovereignty, and
term of democracy. Mcnarcnnsts look upon the
falls when 1t loses control of itself, and from which
at length return TO the republic ts possible ana
even inevitable and they consider tnat TINS re,
or monarchy therefore just now empire and republic
are cassed together as the same power In different
under which the Assembly celebrates, Is relied
upon to Lay these EVIL spirits from the vastly deep OF
DOUBTS AND FEARS.
II may be possible now that the Assembly, behind
the lines OF the army will feel bold enough to de-
less likely, however. to be dore on that account:
But II this Assembly does not declare king n 1t
1ss hat act to body W 50
as TO make the choice OF king certain.
Additional Particulars of the Fight Good
Friday ut the Storming Of the Bridge of
NeuiiIy-rhe Rebel Troops Driven Back to
Paris with Great Loss.
VERSAILLES, April 8, 1871.
To-day the government troops have gained an
other victory OF the greatest consequence ana
Importance as to Its moral effects, to say moth
Ing OF the very severe lessons they have
taught our rebel friends OF the Partisan
National Guards. When General Vinoy on Mon.
day last cleared the left bank river OF the repe
troops the latter made towards Paris by the bridge
at Neuilly and on the following night strongly for
tilted the middle OF the same, ana the end OF 1.-THE
tete de pont-on the right bank, with very strong
barricade third OF these truly Partisan defences
having been also erected at about half Of the way
up the Avenue de Neuilly. between the bridge and
the Fort Maillot. Last night, at a consultation be-
tween vinoy and the other generals here 1t was de-
cided that blow should be str ucx to day at these
tween the right bank Of the and the fortihca-
lions of Paris. The telegram l sent you this even
ing will tell what the result Of the operations has
been.
THE MORNING OF BATTLE.
Soon after six A. M received notice that there
would be hot work during the day, but that If put
In an appearance somewhere near Neuilly about one
P. NJ. should be In plenty of time to witness the
days amusement The batteries ofartillery and the
brigades Of infantry moving out of Versailles all the
morning told plainly that not only the anticipated
fight would be no child's play, but that Vinoy was
determined, so FAR as human FORESIGHT could do to
leave nothing to chance. The troops got down within
easy reach OF the brdg but kept well out OF tire
ABOUT TEN A. NJ.
and there made meal OF what they had brought
with them, stacking their packs to be the better fit
for work. From between Mont Valerlen ana
an unheroic one Confess for Is ike anything but
an American to lay at full length behind mud
wall, but then shells and Chassepot balls do not I'M
prove on nearer acquaintance. could not only
THE SILENT PREPARATIONS
OF the government troops on the one side, but the
restless activity, 6nd the firing as II 70 keep their
spirits up, OF the rebels at the other end OF the
bridge. They evidently had that implicit tradi-
onIy creed your Partisan ruiilan knows. With the
help OF q good glass | could see the bottle going
round among the reds and every now and then
some officer among them trying to get them to do
something, which they. with the most perfect dsobe
dience, did not do. They had cannon both IN the
tected by barrlcades, from these guns they
kept every now and then sending
SHOT AND SHELL,
changing their amusement by an occasional dis
charge at any person persons they could see any
where In the neighborhood, myself and my COM
panion having no reason 10 complain that they did
not show q fair share Of attention. On the sue
OF the government troops all was kept perfectly
was sent over the bridge into the insurgents behind
tine further barricade, evidently leaving behind IL
mark which was anything but pleasant Five
MONT vALERIEN BEGAN TO SPEAK
with earnestness OF tone that left doubt as to
shell from the fort burst-a beautiful shot-just
above the insurgents, there was evidently great
q round gap In Their ranks. The second shell-halr
minute after the irst-scai,ered stu wider
formerly c emP aSs Sscw II red the at hs
distance OF barely two hundred yards, shot
after shot-not shelis-at the Darricade on the mia
| die OF the bridge, and thereby solved problem
which the revolutionary band throughout Europe
! viii not be pleased to hear. IL was, so l am told.
/ the first time that ri1ed cannon were tried
| against stone barricades of the regular Partisan
faubourg build and in the struggle the barrlcade
got most decidedly the worst OF 1t. Every shot
simply turned the stones of the Darricade into so
many shells, all OF which injured more or less the
defenders In half dozen rounds
AN OPENING WAS MADE IN THE BARRICADE,
and its defenders had run TO their second defence
Now the fire got hot The artillery OF the govern
second Sarrlcade and dropping shells t be
hind it, utterly conioundlng Its brave defenders,
many OF whom we could plaialy see were Knocked
to their proper AT last their guns were all but
silenced although they Kept firing long shots from
the houses they had taken possession OF just behind
the bridge IL was now the time to give the signal
for the attack, and company OF sailors with a
company OF the line, jumped up and rushed forward,
very CALAMITY lea by their officers. More tnan one
Of them. am sorry 10 say, were Knocked over as
they advanced; This party was closely followed by
latter by battalion OF cnasseurs pied. Before
they got half over the bridge the fire from the houses
had been put in position beyond the bridge did
their to sweep 1t clear in every act OF life aud
certainly IN every movement OF war, there Is turn
THE TURNING POINT on THIS BRIDGE AT NEuiLLY
| had now come Knowing what very young soldiers
most OF the troops engaged were fully expected to
| See them either turn back or commit the almost
equally great fault OF stopping 10 tire. They did
! neither. And as l saw the leading flies soldiers
and salors-spring upon the last barricade aud use
| their terrible sword bayonets with vlgor that
almost made me believe could near each tnud,, of
cold steel 1t entered human flesh, grated against
human bones aud tore aSunder human muscles an d
siEews, drew long breath, feeling that the fight
was virtually won. Never in the fair share OF In
dian warfare that witnessed years ago did 1 ever
see soldiers blood more 'upn against .'niggers'
than was that Of the French troops to-day again &c
the 'reas" IRON Paris.
THE REDS DRIVEN BAcE.
In five minutes the end OF the bridge was fully in
possession Of The attacking party, who seemed to
give, as their opponents evidently expected to re.
ceive no mercy, and 10 make no prisoners. But
even then, as 1t appeared to me- the danger was
only half over. Many OF the insurgents had taken
refuge Ill the houses beyond the bridge anu opened
cross fire upon the troops. Street nghting, as
every soldier knows Is about the most trying 0ruea
infantry car 20 through. But to-day
THE FRENCH NEVER ONCE FLINCHED.
Mont Valer1en lent them helping hand with few
shells, one OF which, pumping into house where a
number OF rebels had taken refuge and were firing
from, turned them all out like swarm or bees into
the road. where they were met and killed in a hand
to hand encounter with the troops The main body
OF the insurgents now fed up the Avenue de Neu-
lily, leaving some four or i've guns In the hands OF
their adversares
TIE REBEL RoUT.