had formed a regular park of artillery in the Place d'Italie, and this
is the aspect of the Buttes Montmartre on the sixth of March, as
described by an eye-witness:--

"The heights have become a veritable camp. Three or four hundred
National Guards, belonging partly to the 61st and 168th Battalions,
mount guard there day and night, and relieve each other regularly,
like old campaigners. They have two drummers and four trumpeters,
who beat the rappel or ring out the charge whenever the freak takes
them, without any one knowing why or wherefore. The officers, with
broad red belts, high boots, and their long swords dragging after
them, parade the Place with pipes or cigars in their months. They
glance disdainfully at the passers-by, and seem almost overpowered
with the importance of the high mission they imagine themselves
called upon to fulfil. "This is of what their mission consists: at
the moment of the entry of the Prussians into Paris, the National
Guard of Montmartre, fearing that the artillery would be taken from
them to be delivered to the enemy, assembled and dragged their
pieces, about twenty in number, up to the plateau which forms the
summit of Montmartre, and then placed them in charge of a special
guard. Now that the Prussians have left, they still keep their
stronghold, thinking to use it in the defence of the Republic
against the attacks of the reactionists. The guns are pointed
towards Paris, and guard is kept without a moment's relaxation.
There are four principal posts, the most important being at the foot
of the hill, on the Place Saint Pierre. The guards bivouac in the
open air, their muskets piled, ready at hand. Sentinels are placed
at the corner of each street, most of them lads of sixteen or
seventeen; but they are thoroughly in earnest, and treat the
passers-by roughly enough.