General Marmont, in preparation for assuming the offensive, concentrated the whole of his little band around the Tuileries, and constructed for himself a fortified camp in the Carrousel protected by eight guns. A few troops were forwarded to him from Vincennes and Versailles, so that he could display for the defense of that central point thirty-six hundred soldiers of the Guard, tried men, upon whom he could rely. Six hundred of these were horsemen. Forming three columns, he sent one along the banks of the river to recapture the Hotel de Ville, to demolish all the barricades, and disperse the armed bands, until they reached the Place of the Bastile. Another was to advance to the same point by the boulevards. The third was to force its way through the Rue St. Honore to the Market of the Innocents. Along these three lines the battle now raged fiercely, with equal determination on each side. The scene of tumult, carnage, horror, which ensued can neither be described nor imagined. The streets were narrow. Every house was a fortress, from whose windows a deadly fire was poured upon the troops. The combatants, inflamed by the fury and terror of the strife, neither asked nor granted quarter. Hour after hour they fought, Frenchmen against Frenchmen, brother against brother, and the pavements were clotted with blood. Barricades were taken and retaken. There were triumphant charges and murderous repulses. CHAPTER VII. CHARLES X. DETHRONED. 1830 Progress of the insurrection.--Night of tumult.--The "Marseillaise Hymn."--Consternation of the court.--The royal family.--The Duchess de Berri.--Embarrassment of the officers.--Resignation of Count de Raoul.--The troops desert.--Tactics of General Marmont.--The struggle continued.--Interview between General Marmont and M. Arago.--Firmness of Marmont.--Success of the insurgents.--Capture of artillery.--Retreat of the Royalists.--General Marmont and the king.--Consternation at St. Cloud.--Recall of the ordinances.--Scenes of confusion.--Retreat to Versailles.--To Rambouillet.--Abdication.--M. Barrot and the king.--Departure for Cherbourg.--St. Maintenon.--Mournful journey.--Parting with the Guard.--Louis seeks an asylum.--Journey to Cherbourg.--Arrival at Cherbourg.--Embarkation.--A sad farewell. Night came, the night of the 28th of July, 1830. The royal troops, having really accomplished nothing of any moment in their conflict with the insurgent people, were ordered to avail themselves of the darkness to retreat from all the positions they had gained. Thus, before midnight the troops, virtually defeated, sought refuge in concentrating themselves in their fortified camp at the Carrousel. It was with no little difficulty that some of them fought their way back to regain the quarters which they had left.