The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-12-15
tGaliinorc Amsrican.l
HOW TO CARRY CITIES BY
STORM.

stances IN history, IN none OF which was
greater bravery Witnessed, nor more mas
lerIy generalship, nor more complete sue
cess. Two memorable events of this
kind have been referred to by journals Of
recent date-one Signalling the last
great struggle between Rome and Car
thage: the other occurred in the Peninsu-
lar war Of the present centary.
The following account Of the manner in
which Carthage was taken and destroyed
by the Romans under SclpIo AFaicANUs
DoLL1N:
"Earlv in the spring Scipio attacked at
one and the same time the harhor called
Cothon and the citadel. Having pos
scssed himself Of the wall which sur
rounded this port, he threw himself into
tie great square OF the city that WAS ne1r
il, lrom whence there WAS an ascent TO
the citadel up ihree streets, on each side
of which were houses, from the tops
whereof a shower Of darts was discharged
upon the Ronsns, who were obhgal. be-
f0fe they couki advance further, 10 force
tie houses they came 10 first, and post
themselves in Them, in order 10 dislodge
thence the enemy, who fought from the
neighboring houses. The combat, which
was carried on from the tops ana in eve
ry part OF the houses, continued SIX DAYS,
during which a dreadful slaughter was
made. To clear the streets, and make
way for the troops, the Romans dragged
with hooks bodies Q fsuci: Of The inhabi-
tan!s as had been slain or precipi.s.ed
heatllong from the houses, threw them IN
70 pits, many o. them while yet alive and
painting. In this loil, which lasted SIX
days and six nights. the soldiers were re
lisvcd from time To time BY fresh caes,
wiihoat which they would have beca
quite spent. Scip.o was She only per-
son who did not take q WAX Of sleep du-
ring all this lime, and scarce allowed him
self leisure 10 take the least refresh
ment."
In NAplER's admirable history Of the
Pcninsular war a most interesting and
graphic description is found Of the siege
and capture Of Saragossa by the French
under Marshal LANES. The ramparts
having been battered down HE historian
SAYS:
"Thc walls of Saragossa ;hus went 70
the ground; bat Saragosso herself rearain-
ed erect, ana as lAe broken girdle fell
from the heroic city the b~esiegefs, start
led at the view Of her NAKED strength
the regular d~eleuces had indeed cru4atIeI
before Ike skill OF the assailanls, bu, The
popular resistance was Immediately call
ell, with all is terrors, into a@c.iaa, and as
if fortune had resolved TO mark the exact
moment when al! die ordinary ~caleu'a-
tons Of science should cease, the chief
engineers on both sides were; smuita-
n%eously slsin. The French General, la
Cosle, a young nan, intrepid, skiiiul and
endowed with genius, persisted ike a
brave soldier. The Spanish Col. San
GEMS died moi only with the honor Of a
soldier hut the glory Of the patriot-his
blood staining the ramparts he had him
self raised FOR Inc protection of his native
place.
"The combat being now in the streets
OF Sarfagassa, The soaad Of the alarm bell
WIS heard in every q1ar;er-the people
crowded into the houses nearest the
Judgments OF the encHiy--additional bar
rieades were constructed across the princi-
pad horouehfares-mne5 were prepared
in the more open spaces and Tie internal
communications fran house 10 house
were multiplied un.! they formed a vas!
labyrinth. tie intricate windings Of which
were ouly TO be Traced hy the wcauors
and the dead bodies Of the defenders
From the height Of he walls which he
had conquered, Lannes contemplated this
terrific scene, and judging 1bat men SO
passionate and 50 prepared, conid not be
prudauiiy encountered in open battle, he
resolved 10 proceed by the slow, but
%ecriaia progress Of tie n.4.iock and tAs
mine"
NAPIER proceeds 70 relate the f:riher
operations Of the siege-how house after
house was blown up, street by street gain
cd, and finally Saragassa captured, but
only after il was almost reduced TO an in
discriminate mass OF smouldering ruins.
In both ofthe instances here specified
the slaughter was immense. And it may
be inferred beyond q doubt that il our
iroo9s at Monterey had continued the
street fighting as it was hegun on the first
day Of the assault, the iGal capture Of tie
place would not have been accomplished
withon. fearful loss. 'Ena city was pre-
pared for Just such a defence as that which
Saragassa maintained; j; was in fact pre-
pared with more care than had been be-
slowed upon the latter place, which had
IT, -aiis tn rely anon and therefore did