Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-02-18
The ChivaIrIc Death of Sir Philip sIduey-
: Intnraafinn Accnnnr- nf Ihnl Enr.nn

The Chivnlric Death of Sir Philip Siduey-
Interesting Account of that Famous
,RVeHt.
The action which led TO Sir Philip Sid.
ney's death, it will be remembered, was in
intercepting convoy of provisions sent BY
the Spaniards to the reliefof Zutpher which
was besieged by the Dutch and English,
The affair on the part of the young English
knight was an anticipation of the courage
and bravado of the famous charge of tho
Six Hundred at Balaklsva. Sidney, it will
be seen, owed his death to piece of trans
cendental Chivslric refinement, thus related
by the historian, Motley;
1t was FIVE o'clock of chill Autumn
morning, October 2, 1858. 1t was time for
day 10 break, but the fog was SO thick that a
man at the distance of five yards was ouite
visible. The creaking of wagon-wheels and
the measured tramp of soldiers soon became
family audible, however, to Sir John Norris
and his five hundred as they sat there in the
mist. Presently came galloping forward in
hot haste those mobiles and gentlemen, with
their esquires, fifty men in all-Sidney,
Willoughbyi and the rest-whom Leicester
had no longer been able to restrain from
taking part in the adventure.
A force of infantry, the amount of which
can not be satisfactorily ascertained. had
been ordered by the Earl to cross the bridge
at a later moment. Sidney's cornet of horse
was then in Deventer, to which place it had
been sent in order to assist in uuellinp an
anticipated revolt, so that he came. like
most Of his companions, as private volun-
teer and knight errant
The arrival of the expected convoy was
soon more distinctly heard, but no scouts or
ArrtVn ho kok.
notice OF the enemys movements. Sud-
denly the log, which had shrouded the scene
so closely, rolled away like curtain, and in
the full light of an October morning the
Englishmen found themselves face to face
with compact body of more than 8, 600 men.
The Marquis del Vasto rode at the head of
the force, surrounded by band of mounted
arquebus men. The cavalry, under the
famous Epirote chief George Creseia, Ham
nibsl GoDzaga Bentivoglio, Sess, Cont, and
other distinguished commanders, followed !;
the columns Of pikemen and musketeers
lined the hedge-rows on both sides of the
causewayi while between them the long
train of wagons came slowly along under
their protection. The whole force had got
in motion after having sent notice of their
arrival to Verdugo, who, with one or two
thousand men, was expected to sally forth
almost Immediately from the city-gate.
There was but brief time for deliberation.
Notwithstanding the tremendous odds there
YVES no thought of retreat. Black Norris
called to Sir William Stanley, with whom
he had been at variance so lately at Does
burg
''There hath been ill-blood between usn
he said: "Let us be friends together this day,
and die side by side, if need be, in Her
Majesty's cause"
'If you see me not serve my Prince with
faithful courage now" replied Stanley, "ac-
count me forever a coward. Living or
dypg Will stand or lie by you in friend
AS they were speaking these words the
young Earl Of Essex, General of the Horse,
cried to his handful of troopers:
"follow me, good fellows, for the honor Of
England and of England's Queenp
AS he spoke be dashed, lance in rest, upon
the enemy's cavalry, overthrew the foremost
man, horse and rider, shivered his own spear
to splinters, and then, swinging his curtel Ak,
rode merrlly forward. His whole little
troop, compact as an arrowhead, few with
an irresistible shock against the opposing
columns, pierced clean through them, and
scattered them in all directions. At the
very first charge 100 English horsemen drove
the Spanish and Albanian cavalry back upon
the musketeers and pikemen. Wheeling
with Tapidity, they retired before volley of
musket-shot, by which many horses and a
few riders were killed. and then formed
again to renew the attack. Sir Philip Sid
ney, on coming to the field, met Sir William
Pelham, the veteran Lord Marshal, lightly
armed, bad with chivalric extravagance
thrown OFF his own cuisines, and now rode
to battle with no armor but his cuirass. At
the second charge his horse was shot under
him, but, mounting another, he was seen
everywhere IN the thick Of the fight be-
having himself with gallantry which ex-
torted admiration even from the enemy.
For the battle was a series of personal en-
counters in which high officers were doing
the work of private soldiers Lord North,
who had been lying "bed rid" with musket-
shot in the leg, had got himself put on horse
back, and with one boot on and one boot
of" bore himself "most Justify" through the
whole affair. "I desire that Her Majesty
may know, he said, shat live but TO serve
her. better barony that / have could not
hire the Lord North TO live on meaner
terms" Sir William Russell laid about him
with his curtel-ax TO such purpose that the
Spaniards pronounced him devil and not 4
man. Wherever" said an eye e-witness, She
saw five OF six of the enemy together, thi.heI
would he and with bis hard knocks soon
separated their friendship" Lord vii.
loughby encountered George Orescia, Gen
eIal Of the famed Albanian cavalry, unhorsed
him at the first shock, and rolled him into
the ditch. 81 yield me thy prisoner" called
out the EPirote IN French, "for thou art a
Preuz eheValier; !" while Willoughby, trusting
to bis captive's word, galloped onward, and
with him the rest of the little troop, TIL they
seemed swallowed up by the superior num-
6eH OF the enemy His horse was shot un-
DER him, bis basses were torn from his legs,
and be was pearly taken prisoner, but
fought bis way back with Incredible strength
and good fortune. Sir William Stanley s
horse had seven bullets in him, but bore bis
rider unhurt TO the end of the battle.
Leicester declared Sir William and Gold
Reade" % be HRorth THAR ueirhf in naarl W