two o'clock in the morning
This he had taken up to the roof , where some twenty persons were gathered . A magnificent view was obtained here of the circle of hills from Valerien round by Meudon , and the whole of the left bank of the river . It needed but a glance to see that the army of the Commune had made but little progress . Although the fighting began soon after two o'clock in the morning , and it was now nearly mid-day , the heights of Meudon were still in the hands of the troops . From among the trees by the chateau white puffs of smoke shot out , many of the shells bursting in and around the fort of Issy , which replied briskly . The guns of Vanves joined in the combat , their fire being directed towards the plateau of Chatillon , which was held by the troops . Round Issy a force of the National Guard was assembled , but the main body was in the deep valley between the forts and Meudon , and on the slopes nearly up to the chateau ; the rattle of musketry here was continuous , a light smoke drifting up through the trees .