The Admiral and the sailors were somewhat astonished to find that in the order of the day hardly anything was said of those who really did all the fighting, but that the "pork butchers" were lauded to the skies.

General Trochu on this wrote a letter to the Admiral, informing him that it was necessary for political reasons to encourage the National Guard.

Whilst the battle was going on at Villiers and Champigny, the marching battalions of the National Guard were drawn up almost out of shot.

An order came to form them into line.

Their commander, General Clement Thomas, replied that this would be impossible, as they would imagine that they were about to be taken into action.