3-039-132 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Civil War in Paris: Communists routed at the Bridge of Neuilly, 1871. 2nd April...The Reds had strongly barricaded the bridge of Neuilly...Admiral Bruat commanded the troops in the field. The enemy...were found drawn up in line, about 5000 strong, with two guns, and with their rear disposed so that they could effect, if needful, a retreat to the right bank of the river by the bridge at Neuilly...The Red Republicans here met them, and at first seemed to expect that the regular troops would fraternise with the insurgent National Guards...At the same time they threw the butts of their rifles in the air, as a sign that they wished not to fight, but to be friendly with their adversaries. Amongst the rebel troops were a couple of hundred men who had deserted from their regiments in Paris, and who still wore the well-known red trousers and grey great-coats of the French army...the infantry of the Marine deployed into line and delivered a volley...the battery of artillery unlimbering and pouring in canister upon the insurgent battalions, so that the masses of men were rent asunder, and a panic seized them all...The Red Republicans fled back across the bridge...Their loss was about 150 killed and wounded and fifty prisoners'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.