Chief Secretary Birrell arrived in Dublin but had little function as the military were now in control. Artillery pounded the east side of Sackville Street setting Clery's and other buildings on fire. The Helga shelled Commandant de Valera's position at Boland's bakery but its fire was mainly directed at an empty distillery. The British launched a major assault on Commandant Ceannt's position at the South Dublin Union; while they captured and held some buildings within the Union complex, the engagement resulted in stalemate. While directing operations in Middle Abbey Street, James Connolly was seriously injured in the ankle but continued to direct military operations. As the military cordon now effectively separated the insurgents to the north and south of the river Liffey, Connolly's lines of communication with most of the outlying positions were severed and there was no longer any form of command structure.