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Romance Of Modern Sieges; Describing The Personal Adventures, Resource And Daring of Besiegers and Besieged In All Parts Of The World

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<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <div class="transnote"><h3>Transcriber's Note:</h3> <p>Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as possible, including some inconsistent hyphenation. Some minor corrections of spelling and punctuation have been made.</p> </div> <div class="center"> <ANTIMG id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" width-obs="381" height-obs="600" alt="" /></div> <h1>The Romance of Modern Sieges</h1> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG id="img_1" src="images/i_004.jpg" width-obs="393" height-obs="600" alt="" /> <div class="caption"> <p class="header">The Sally from the Fort at Kumassi</p> <p>Led by Capt. Armitage, some two hundred loyal natives sallied forth. At their head marched the native chiefs, prominent amongst whom was the young king of Aguna. He was covered back and front with fetish charms, and on his feet were boots, and where these ended his black legs began.</p> </div> </div> <hr class="chap" /> <p class="center xlarge">THE ROMANCE OF<br/> MODERN SIEGES</p> <p class="center large">DESCRIBING THE PERSONAL ADVENTURES,<br/> RESOURCE AND DARING OF BESIEGERS<br/> AND BESIEGED IN ALL PARTS OF<br/> THE WORLD</p> <p class="p2 center">BY<br/> <span class="large">EDWARD GILLIAT, M.A.</span><br/> <span class="small">SOMETIME MASTER AT HARROW SCHOOL<br/> AUTHOR OF “FOREST OUTLAWS,” “IN LINCOLN GREEN,” <i>&c.</i>, <i>&c.</i></span></p> <p class="p2 center">WITH SIXTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS</p> <p class="p2 center large">PHILADELPHIA<br/> J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY<br/> LONDON: SEELEY & CO. LIMITED<br/> 1908</p> <hr class="chap" /> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</SPAN></span></p> <h2><SPAN name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE">PREFACE</SPAN></h2> <p>These chapters are not histories of sieges, but narratives of such incidents as occur in beleaguered cities, and illustrate human nature in some of its strangest moods. That “facts are stranger than fiction” these stories go to prove: such unexpected issues, such improbable interpositions meet us in the pages of history. What writer of fiction would dare to throw down battlements and walls by an earthquake, and represent besiegers as paralysed by religious fear? These tales are full, indeed, of all the elements of romance, from the heroism and self-devotion of the brave and the patient suffering of the wounded, to the generosity of mortal foes and the kindliness and humour which gleam even on the battle-field and in the hospital. But the realities of war have not been kept out of sight; now and then the veil has been lifted, and the reader has been shown a glimpse of those awful scenes which haunt the memory of even the stoutest veteran.</p> <p>We cannot realize fully the life that a soldier lives unless we see both sides of that life. We cannot feel the gratitude that we ought to feel unless we know the strain and suspense, the agony and endurance, that go<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</SPAN></span> to make up victory or defeat. In time of war we are full of admiration for our soldiers and sailors, but in the past they have been too often forgotten or slighted when peace has ensued. Not to keep in memory the great deeds of our countrymen is mere ingratitude.</p> <p>Hearty acknowledgments are due to the authors and publishers who have so kindly permitted quotation from their books. Every such permission is more particularly mentioned in its place. The writer has also had many a talk with men who have fought in the Crimea, in India, in France, and in South Africa, and is indebted to them for some little personal touches such as give life and colour to a narrative.</p> <hr class="chap" /> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</SPAN></span></p> <h2><SPAN name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</SPAN></h2> <table summary="Contents"> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR (1779-1782)</span></h3></td> <td class="small tdr tdb">PAGES</td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">The position of the Rock—State of defence—Food-supply—Rodney brings relief—Fire-ships sent in—A convoy in a fog—Heavy guns bombard the town—Watching the cannon-ball—Catalina gets no gift—One against fourteen—Red-hot shot save the day—Lord Howe to the rescue</td> <td class="tdpn">17-27</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">DEFENCE OF ACRE (1799)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">Jaffa stormed by Napoleon—Sir Sidney Smith hurries to Acre—Takes a convoy—How the French procured cannon-balls—The Turks fear the mines—A noisy sortie—Fourteen assaults—A Damascus blade—Seventy shells explode—Napoleon nearly killed—The siege raised—A painful retreat</td> <td class="tdpn">28-36</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">THE WOUNDED CAPTAIN IN TALAVERA (1809)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">Talavera between two fires—Captain Boothby wounded—Brought into Talavera—The fear of the citizens—The surgeons’ delay—Operations without chloroform—The English retire—French troops arrive—Plunder—French officers kind, and protect Boothby—A private bent on loot beats a hasty retreat</td> <td class="tdpn">37-52<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</SPAN></span></td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">THE CAPTURE OF CIUDAD RODRIGO (1812)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">A night march—Waiting for scaling-ladders—The assault—Ladders break—Shells and grenades—A magazine explodes—Street fighting—Drink brings disorder and plunder—Great spoil</td> <td class="tdpn">53-61</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">THE STORMING OF BADAJOS (1812)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">Rescue of wounded men—A forlorn hope—Fire-balls light up the scene—A mine explodes—Partial failure of the English—Escalade of the castle—Pat’s humour and heroism—Saving a General—Wellington hears the news—The day after the storm</td> <td class="tdpn">62-75</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">A PRISONER IN ST. SEBASTIAN (1813)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">The <i>coup de grâce</i>—The hospital—A cruel order—An attempt at escape—Removed to the castle—The English at the breach—Many are wounded—French ladies sleep in the open—A vertical fire—English gunners shoot too well—A good sabre lightly won</td> <td class="tdpn">76-89</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">JELLALABAD (1842)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">Position of the town—Sale’s brigade rebuilds the defences—A sortie—Bad news—A queer noise—A ruse that did not succeed—The only survivor comes in—Story of a massacre—The earthquake—The walls are down—Are rebuilt—English magic—Pollock comes—Fight outside—The peril of Lady Sale</td> <td class="tdpn">90-109</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL (1854-1856)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">The English land without tents—Mr. Kinglake shows off before Lord Raglan—The Alma—Strange escapes—Looted houses—<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</SPAN></span>Fair plunder—Balaklava Bay—Horses lost at sea—A derelict worth having—Jack very helpful—The Heavy and Light Brigades—Spies—Fraternizing</td> <td class="tdpn">110-125</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">AFTER INKERMANN (1854)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">Valiant deeds—Lord Raglan under fire—Tryon the best shot—A Prince’s button—A cold Christmas—Savage horses—The Mamelon redoubt—Corporal Quin—Colonel Zea</td> <td class="tdpn">126-136</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">THE INDIAN MUTINY—DELHI (1857-1858)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">The Mutiny begins—A warning from a sepoy—A near thing—A noble act of a native officer—In camp at Delhi with no kit—A plan that failed—Our first check—Wilson in command—Seaton wounded—Arrival of Nicholson—Captures guns—The assault—The fate of the Princes—Pandy in a box</td> <td class="tdpn">137-158</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</SPAN><br/> <span class="smaller">THE DEFENCE OF LUCKNOW (<span class="smcap">31st of May to 25th of September, 1857</span>)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">Firing at close quarters—Adventures of fugitives—Death of Sir H. Lawrence—His character—Difficulty of sending letters—Mines and counter-mines—Fulton killed—Signs of the relief coming—A great welcome—Story of the escape from Cawnpore</td> <td class="tdpn">159-174</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">THE RELIEF OF LUCKNOW (1857)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">The scene at Cawnpore—Fights before Lucknow—Nearly blown up—A hideous nightmare—Cheering a runaway—All safe out of the Residency—A quick march back—Who stole the biscuits?—Sir Colin’s own regiment</td> <td class="tdpn">175-190<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</SPAN></span></td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">RUNNING THE BLOCKADE (1861)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">North <i>v.</i> South—A new President hates slavery—Port Sumter is bombarded—Ladies on the house-top—Niggers don’t mind shells—A blockade-runner comes to Oxford—The <i>Banshee</i> strips for the race—Wilmington—High pay—Lights out—Cast the lead—A stern chase—The run home—Lying <i>perdu</i>—The <i>Night-hawk</i> saved by Irish humour—Southern need at the end of the war—Negro dignity waxes big</td> <td class="tdpn">191-201</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">THE FIRST IRONCLADS (1862)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">Will they sink or swim?—Captain Ericsson, the Swede—The <i>Merrimac</i> raised and armoured—The <i>Monitor</i> built by private venture—<i>Merrimac</i> surprises Fort Monroe—The <i>Cumberland</i> attacked—The silent monster comes on—Her ram makes an impression—Morris refuses to strike his flag—The <i>Cumberland</i> goes down—The <i>Congress</i> is next for attention—On fire and forced to surrender—Blows up at midnight—The <i>Minnesota</i> aground shows she can bite—General panic—Was it Providence?—A light at sea—Only a cheese-box on a raft—Sunday’s fight between two monsters—The <i>Merrimac</i> finds she is deeply hurt, wounded to death—The four long hours—Worden and Buchanan both do their best—Signals for help—The fiery end of the <i>Whitehall</i> gunboat</td> <td class="tdpn">202-212</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS (1862)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">New Orleans and its forts—Farragut despises craven counsel—The mortar-fleet in disguise—Fire-rafts rush down—A week of hot gun-fire—A dash through the defences—The <i>Varuna’s</i> last shot—Oscar, aged thirteen—Ranged before the city—Anger of mob—Summary justice—Soldiers insulted in the streets—General Butler in command—Porter nearly blown up in council—Fort Jackson in ruins—“The fuse is out”</td> <td class="tdpn">213-219<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[Pg xiii]</SPAN></span></td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">THE SIEGE OF RICHMOND (1862 <span class="smaller">AND</span> 1865)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">Fair Oaks a drawn battle—Robert Lee succeeds Johnston—Reforms in the army—Humours of the sentinels—Chaffing the niggers—Their idea of liberty—The pickets chum together—Stuart’s raid—A duel between a Texan and a German—Effect of music on soldiers—A terrible retreat to James River—Malvern Hill battle-scenes—Three years after—General Grant before Richmond—Coloured troops enter the Southern capital in triumph—Lee surrenders—Friends once more</td> <td class="tdpn">220-230</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">THE SIEGE OF PARIS (1870-1871)</span> <br/><span class="smaller">WITH THE GERMANS OUTSIDE</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">The Germans invest Paris—Trochu’s sortie fails—The English ambulance welcomed—A Prince’s visit to the wounded—In the snow—Madame Simon—A brave Lieutenant—Piano and jam—The big guns begin—St. Denis—Old Jacob writes to the Crown Prince—A dramatic telegram—Spy fever—Journalists mobbed</td> <td class="tdpn">231-240</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">THE SIEGE OF PARIS—<i>Continued</i></span> <br/><span class="smaller">WITH THE BESIEGED (1870-1871)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">Moods in Paris—The Empress escapes—Taking down Imperial flags—Playing dominoes under fire—Cowards branded—Balloon post—Return of the wounded—French numbed by cold—The lady and the dogs—The nurse who was mighty particular—Castor and Pollux pronounced tough—Stories of suffering</td> <td class="tdpn">241-250</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">METZ (1870)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">Metz surrounded—Taken for a spy—Work with an ambulance—Fierce Prussians rob an old woman—Attempt to leave Metz<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv">[Pg xiv]</SPAN></span>—Refusing an honour—The <i>cantinière’s</i> horse—The grey pet of the regiment—Deserters abound—A village fired for punishment—Sad scenes at the end</td> <td class="tdpn">251-263</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">PLEVNA (1877)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">An English boy as Turkish Lieutenant—A mêlée—Wounded by a horseman—Takes letter to Russian camp—The Czar watches the guns—Skobeleff’s charge—The great Todleben arrives—Skobeleff deals with cowards—Pasting labels—The last sortie—Osman surrenders—Prisoners in the snow—Bukarest ladies very kind</td> <td class="tdpn">264-279</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">SIEGE OF KHARTOUM (1884)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">Gordon invited to the Soudan—The Mahdi—Chinese Gordon—His religious feeling—Not supported by England—Arabs attack—Blacks as cowards—Pashas shot—The <i>Abbas</i> sent down with Stewart—Her fate—Relief coming—Provisions fail—A sick steamer—<i>Bordein</i> sent down to Shendy—Alone on the house-top—Sir Charles Wilson and Beresford steam up—The rapids and sand-bank—“Do you see the flag?”—“Turn and fly”—Gordon’s fate</td> <td class="tdpn">280-288</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">KUMASSI (1900)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">The Governor’s visit—Pageant of Kings—Evil omens—The Fetish Grove—The fort—Loyal natives locked out—A fight—King Aguna’s triumph—Relief at last—Their perils—Saved by a dog—Second relief—Governor retires—Wait for Colonel Willcocks—The flag still flying—Lady Hodgson’s adventures</td> <td class="tdpn">289-302<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv">[Pg xv]</SPAN></span></td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">MAFEKING (1899-1900)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">Snyman begins to fire—A flag of trace—Midnight sortie—The dynamite trolley—Kaffirs careless—A cattle raid—Eloff nearly takes Mafeking—Is taken himself instead—The relief dribble in—At 2 a.m. come cannon with Mahon and Plumer</td> <td class="tdpn">303-317</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">THE SIEGE OF KIMBERLEY (1899-1900)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">The diamond-mines—Cecil Rhodes comes in—Streets barricaded—Colonel Kekewich sends out the armoured train—Water got from the De Beers Company’s mines—A job lot of shells—De Beers can make shells too—Milner’s message—Beef or horse?—Long Cecil—Labram killed—Shelter down the mines—A capture of dainties—Major Rodger’s adventures—General French comes to the rescue—Outposts astonished to see Lancers and New Zealanders</td> <td class="tdpn">318-325</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">THE SIEGE OF LADYSMITH (1899-1900)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">Ladysmith—Humours of the shell—The <i>Lyre</i> tries to be funny—Attack on Long Tom—A brave bugler—Practical jokes—The black postman—A big trek—Last shots—Some one comes—Saved at last</td> <td class="tdpn">326-340</td></tr> <tr><td><h3><SPAN href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI</SPAN><br/><span class="smaller">SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR (1904)</span></h3></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging">Port Arthur—Its hotel life—Stoessel not popular—Fleet surprised—Shelled at twelve miles—Japanese pickets make a mistake—Wounded cannot be brought in—Polite even under the knife—The etiquette of the bath—The unknown death—Kondrachenko, the real hero—The white flag at last—Nogi the modest—“Banzai!”—Effect of good news on the wounded—The fleet sink with alacrity</td> <td class="tdpn">341-352</td></tr> </table> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_xvi" id="Page_xvi">[Pg xvi]</SPAN></span></p> <hr class="chap" /> <h2><SPAN name="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS" id="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</SPAN></h2> <table summary="Illustrations"> <tr><td class="tdhanging"><SPAN href="#img_1">THE SALLY FROM THE FORT AT KUMASSI (see p. 294)</SPAN></td> <td class="tdpn" colspan="2"><i>Frontispiece</i></td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging"><SPAN href="#img_2">THE LAST SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR BY FRANCE AND SPAIN</SPAN></td> <td class="tdpn"><i>To face p.</i></td> <td class="tdpn"> 26</td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging"><SPAN href="#img_3">THE NIGHT ASSAULT OF CIUDAD RODRIGO</SPAN></td> <td class="tddo">"</td> <td class="tdpn2">56</td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging"><SPAN href="#img_4">THE ESCALADE OF THE CASTLE</SPAN></td> <td class="tddo">"</td> <td class="tdpn2">66</td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging"><SPAN href="#img_5">THE LAST OF AN ARMY</SPAN></td> <td class="tddo">"</td> <td class="tdpn2">96</td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging"><SPAN href="#img_6">GETTING RID OF HIS CAPTORS</SPAN></td> <td class="tddo">"</td> <td class="tdpn2">128</td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging"><SPAN href="#img_7">A DARING DEED: BLOWING UP THE CASHMERE GATE, DELHI</SPAN></td> <td class="tddo">"</td> <td class="tdpn2">154</td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging"><SPAN href="#img_8">THE LIGHTER SIDE OF WAR AT LUCKNOW</SPAN></td> <td class="tddo">"</td> <td class="tdpn2">180</td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging"><SPAN href="#img_9">SHOT DOWN BY THEIR FELLOW-CITIZENS</SPAN></td> <td class="tddo">"</td> <td class="tdpn2">216</td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging"><SPAN href="#img_10">A DUEL BETWEEN A TEXAN AND A GERMAN</SPAN></td> <td class="tddo">"</td> <td class="tdpn2">224</td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging"><SPAN href="#img_11">THE BALLOON POST USED DURING THE SIEGE OF PARIS</SPAN></td> <td class="tddo">"</td> <td class="tdpn2">244</td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging"><SPAN href="#img_12">A STRANGE WEAPON OF OFFENCE</SPAN></td> <td class="tddo">"</td> <td class="tdpn2">282</td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging"><SPAN href="#img_13">THE BOERS, TAKEN BY SURPRISE, WERE UNSTEADY AND PANIC-STRUCK</SPAN></td> <td class="tddo">"</td> <td class="tdpn2">304</td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging"><SPAN href="#img_14">A BRITISH AMAZON AT MAFEKING</SPAN></td> <td class="tddo">"</td> <td class="tdpn2">308</td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging"><SPAN href="#img_15">A RUSSIAN TORPEDO-BOAT DESTROYER ELUDING THE JAPANESE FLEET</SPAN></td> <td class="tddo">"</td> <td class="tdpn2">344</td></tr> <tr><td class="tdhanging"><SPAN href="#img_16">A HUMAN LADDER</SPAN></td> <td class="tddo">"</td> <td class="tdpn2">348</td></tr> </table> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</SPAN></span></p> <hr class="chap" /> <h2><SPAN name="THE_ROMANCE" id="THE_ROMANCE">THE ROMANCE OF MODERN SIEGES</SPAN></h2> 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