The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-11-09
Sieges, Ancient and Modern.

8. Number Of prescriptions given out, 564.
Sleges, Ancient and Modern.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
II is remark that the present siege OF Sebls-
topo is, bids fair to become, the most notable
record We Of know not what may be the end of
this siege, great and energetic powers the parties
concerned; but think there have been repeated in
stances Of attack and defence showing equal superior
vigor endurance and skill the part Of besegers and
besieged
Among the most celebrated bockades and seges of the
Ancents, those Of Thebes Troy, Plaea, Athens,
Tyre, Veil, Agrigentum, Saguntum and Syracuse.
In the siege OF Thebes the attack and defence afer be-
ing maintained for long time, ended in mutual forbear
the single combat bet Eteoces and Poynices
terminating the affair, at least for season.
Troy was taken and burnt after siege of many years
the preparation alone for the against the Troans
having required ten years.
Plat@a-the small town Of Platea-wih only misera-
BILE garrison of four hundred citizens eighty Atbenans
and hundred women, besides children, sustained
sge and blockade for nearly years against the power
of the combined States of Peloponessus.
Athens capitulaed after blockade of six months the
known character Of their population md that of the OPP
posing power sufficiently suggesting the of
ductiDg that instance Of warfare.
Tyre was in seven or eight months, brought into Al
exanders possession the sequel showing he thought
the Tyrians behaved themselves Defence his order
being that the city should be burnt the ground eght
thousand Of the inhabitants having already in the final
assault and entry Of the Macedonans been put to the
sword two Thousand prisoners being crucied and three
thousand sold rs slaves.
Veil, at the time city large Rome was beseged
ten years, aad they pswerl rivals may infer
that greet daring and courage manifested on both
sides.
Agyentum Of the principal cities then possesse
by the Cafthagenians taken after long SIEGE by tn
Roman and syria powers combined, attesing with
what degree of G fort it must have been effected.
sagunt um.-The Carthaginans, under Hannibal soon
Ead back the Romans by attacking and taking sagun
The siege lasted months, and rather than
taken as prisoners the besieged In their extremit
se. FIRE the city, and the whole of them persisted in
the flames cut to pieces by the Carthagenans.
Syracuse mention Of Syracuse and Archimedes on
The side and the Romans the other, is enough
the head Of this siege. Three years exhausted in
it, and then IL carried by surprise at las.
But there is a modern and no less remarkable
instance of this kind, perhaps too generally overlooked
forgotten. alude TO the attack made by the Turks
spsn Crete CANDIDA then and since called Crete
as every SHOWS, is the largest and finest island
N the Mediterranean, measuring according to modern
survey about $50 miles by 80. OF it. hear wha. Homer
says -
Crete awed the circliug waves fruitful SOIL
Aud ninety cities crown the sea-born isle
Mixed with her nine sons, adopted names
In various tongues avow their various cniins:
Cidoplans, dreadful with the bended yew,
And bold Peosg boast n nations due
The Dorians piumed amidst the tiles of war,
Her foodtul glebe with fierce Achaans share.
Cnossus, her capital Of high eommapd,
Where ceptred hinos with impartial hand,
Divided right. each ninth revolving year
BY Jovc received in council to confer-Pop-.
It island then peoped by various nations dis
tngushcd by their brave and martial spirit. IL last
hing Idomeueus, the who assisted Agemennan
in the Trojan His adopted usurped the king
dom but was expelled and 1t became celebrated
republic. The Romans. however at last subdaed H. aud
II became pro-consuate and finally consulate OF THAI
empire Ii afterwards eu into the hands of Coasta ntue
but taken by the saracens in The ninth century
These cfea led and II annexed
to the empire Thus II remand till sold by the Earl Of
Flanders TO the yensns 10 l194, who called i canda,
because the metropolis had borne the " CANDIDA
rather Kandoc ortihcaion, given 70 II by the sara
Whilst holding the Island 50 much for descrip-
ton Of the island Now for brief account Of the siege
20 distinguishing it,
In 1855, and when least expected, the Turks
with 90 900 troops board commanded by four eachas.
The Canadians could only muster SOME $500 infantry
Der; but nevertheless with this handful Of they
vhstood these invaders, and not only bat the whole
strength Of the Ottoman Empire tor thirty years
testing every step maze in the unjust encroachment
upon theiI bland, with courage and hardihoot
quaIsd And when the Turks had obtained possession lsd
their emlire-the number falling before the brave Can
Sanand treasure exhausted that perhaps could hardly
~
before since not alone because Of is duration bat the
probable horrors that considering the ferociona and
brutal spirit 81 the Turks have characterized the
Whole riege The descendant OF the Dorian Achsiau,
Pb0nician and the like with the various adxture- o.
blood and Nationalist to a long succession of
Eoveregnfiee the island the side al
the presumption is these all maintained their
for courage WHILE the other, arrayed Trio hostile
and yndctfye Turk determined 20 conquer AZ all Ia
zards The and full history ot this conques
has and will lie written, but question not its
schncs in incident the most thrilling Preparations the
most awful.
II difficult conceive Of mastery defence AMI
though modern warfare, being exhibited BY the
power IN part Ia the crimea, IL keeping with the
for superior order Of detail ami nsqrl yet the
acts among the ancients IN their sieges-conac.s
MI say daily occurring the fruit Of marital spirit aud
euergy-yery far transcends anything witnessed IN the
present Eastern war. u i not probable, yea, hardly
possible that the Siege goin1sn last tytbe %
The time the other did, and best will " character.
zed for great mechanical skill than for hand band
bghting the more convincing proof Of bravery. la
,ntrastng the ancient modern battle scenes We In
stiuctlvoly behold In Imagination such spirit a. 4 Ia.
dexed by the upifted battle and In medieval times
tie mighty aad terrible sweep ~ the clsymorerender.
ing indeed hideous IN name bat conceive u modern
armies only NJ manouvering, trying the virtues ~
science The strength Of the advsrsarys patience or
means II support In day he huge layis,han of
gun ehip anchored at the greatest possible Dis
from the enemy and the besegers thus protect
themselves from harm by means Of this scientific i'm.
movement 10 Qpnery-whiist the days work shown
tv ire number OF h5us thrown down burnt or de-
senceless women and chiiarea swept Oh forever.
Not 40 Nth the siege a Crete. Just conceive II you
r,.ase ~ an tslaud with Circumstance Of only 900
miles ard situated but 800 nier ron me very seat u
The Turkish empire surounief ~ Gordon q vessels,
laden viii thoufands apon thoussndA d soldiers really 10
annihate the apparently defenc, less nhahanis. Bat
they are driven back and supply sr supply from the
Ottoman Porte has 20 repensh It's demsted army, TIL
100 900 men are their country This 4 what may
te termed besieging and eng oeseged ana shsua not
-. Ia an