The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-29
HISTORIC SIEGES.
CONTINUED FROM THIRD PAGE.

aGfee WIN Inc less astonishing, out more uaturdi
and minute account OF Herodotus. According to
the latter Cyrus mot Darius the Medel marched at
the head Of the Medo Persian army agains: the great
city; Nabonadius, the Babylonian King mot Bel
shezzar hearing OF his approach Sc; out with all his
forces TO meet him. The two armies fought dread
lul and bloody battle not far from the city OF Baoy
lon itself. Nabonadius was defeated and retired
with his shattered forces within the walls OF the I'M
perial CITY, The Babyonians even now had put
little fear Of the ultimate result OF the struggle
They possessed OF provisions sufficient 10 last
q period OF twenty years. and the river Euphrates,
passing through the centre OF the CITY. gave ue.n
abundant water Cyrus astonished al the strength
and extent OF the walls himself almost despaired OF
ever getting inside them. However ne pauehuy
set 10 work digging trenches ana envinohea tns
city that no new supplies OF any KIND could enter
It. He employed the rest OF his army, which Is SAID
TO have numbered 800 600 men. IN constructing
canal 10 lead OF the waters OF the Euphrates into
an immense lake. During two years the Ba0ylon-
ians troubled themselves but little about his opera
taunt,nsly derided his Efforts The usual routine OF
the life OF the stately old city, indeed, stl ran on
cd the banquets of the Chadean literati, who seem
Q have formed It's nobility, aud and, In inc
saAsa the w aas ,Srsa aSs
the curious sticks headed with carved devices
which every Babylonian citizen was required TO
carry, or cut precious stones and set them IN rcn
red, soft, virgin gold. Little indeed did they dream
that AL these treasures would fall INTO the hands
OF the stern bearded Modes and Perslans, who
grimly waited without the gates. Al last great
Babylonian festival was about TO be celebrated and
Cyrus resolved TO make his final assault. This fest
val Is said 10 have been that OF the Babyonian
Venus, who was worshipped win ndeously obscene
rites. Al rate the whole city abandoned itself
70 unrestrained license and riot. Eagerly the
doomed popuiace drained coptous draugnts OF palm
II was their last debauch. In the dead OF night, by
The order of Cyrus. the head OF the canal
was broken In: ana the waite, waters OF the
leaving the bed OF the river fordabe for the Medic
Persian troops. Each street OF the city leading to
these seem have been left open bv their
drunken guardians. Reused from his orgies by the
10 die upon the spears OF his enemies. Thus fell
mighty Babylon, Tor ages the mistress OF the world
another Of the most famed and splendid cities Of an
uquity, sustained number OF celebrated sieges.
NeDuchadnezzar took II with great difficulty, in the
course Of the same campaign In which he destroyed
Jerusalem. But the most celebrated and obstinate
siege OF Tyre was that carried on by Alexander the
Great After the defeat Of Darius at Issus the
querer marched along the Syrian coast, de-
handing the surrender OF the various cities
9at ssa been ,s 70 the tsFsans
an annual tribute. 1his was refused, and Alexan-
der insisted upon nothing less than the posses ion
measures OF defence. Tyre was built on little
island separated from the main land by a deep
AleXander's only chance Of reaching the city, there
fore, was by constructing an emoankment right
awaiting himself of the massive remains Of the
ruined city OF Paatyrus that mad been destroyed by
Nebuchadnezzar 1t proved, however, work OF
seven months OF patient and untirlng labor and the
9yrian Aeet constantly harassed the artisans kill
ing great number OF them. Even when the mole
was completed, the City enyironed by walls SAID to
have been $50 feet high, held several months Ion
ger and II did the more easily since all the women
and children had been TRANSPORTED by the fleet to
Carthage. AT last a breach was made the walls,
general assault ensued, and the city, after o
desperate resistance, was taken. Alexander MADE
unhappy 1yrians were slaughtered III cold blood.
TWO thousand more were crucifed IN revenge for
rnfC and IN
remainder, III all some So 600 souls, were sold into
slavery. The king and the chief magistrates. how
ever, escaped. They had neu TO the temple OF her
cules and Alexander respected the privilege OF
sanctuary they thus invoked. Even this terrible
career of Tyre 1t must indeed have recovered Its
prosperity with wonderful rapidlty; for only egh-
teen years later II was Desieged again for eighteen
months by the Emperor Ambiguous. History how
ever Is silent 10 the cause the progress and the
conclusion OF this last SIEGE
THE SIEGE OF CARTHAGE
Is also one OF the most memorable In ancient history
After two severe wars with this gallant African
people the Romans were al peace with them
Tor exactly half century, curing winch
the growing wealth and power Of the Punc city
constantly aggravated the jealousy OF the city OF the
Seven Hills. AT last determined to crush DAN
gerous rival, Rome espoused the cause OF Masl-
nissa, who was involved IN dispute with the Car
thagtnians. The Romans assumed TO be the arbl-
traitors III the case. ana the Carthaginians, con-
seious OF their military weakness, assented TO the
the Romans demanded 500 hostages, taken from the
youtn OF the Panic nobility. This was agreed to-
dereo the Cartnagnians to give up ali their arms and
engines OF defence and 10 trust IN Rome for protec
ton. THIS demand was also complied WITH but
scarcely had the Cartnaglnans been guilty OF SO
great folly than their rivals imposed yet third
aud harder condrion-that they should abandon
build a second and undefended CITY, ten
mics distant from the coast. The spirit
OF the Punic peopis was at last aroused, the
gates OF the clty were SHUT every roman within the
walls was murdered and the whole popuiace set to
work making new arms; All the saves and prison.
W fpr n ed fe n
supply the armorers with materials. Houses were
pulled down and the stones with which they had been
built stored the walls as missiles TO huri against
foe ina lks 10 these vigorous preparations, the
Romans for three years were unable to take the City,
constantly. supplied the be.eaguered capital with
fresh stores oil provisions AT length, however,
owing to the capacity OF the Roman General Scipio,
who commanded during the last campaign, Carthage
was taken. general assault was made at the dead
OF night, and the Romans succeeded In entering
the city. dreadful scene followed. The
houses were SIX stories high, ana along
the rooftops, as wei as in the streets, Romans
and Csrtnagnians fought despel ately hand TO hand
every yard or progress made by the Romans being
hoty contested. The man thoroughlares were
choked with dead bouies, and Int rally SWAN with
hideous streams OF blood. All this herolsm, how
ever, failed 10 repe the invaders and Punc Garth
age was numbered among cities OF the past. Tee
Carthage that rose on Its ruins was Roman city,
JERUSALEM
has endured perhaps more OF the horrors OF
war In tho shape OF sieges than any other his
tor1cal city. Josephus enuInerates six seges that
II suffered prior TO the destruction Of the city by
IItuS lue IuOSi AMONG tucse was LuAt
ried on by NebuchadneLZar. ZedeKlah, the King OF
the Jews had sworn lealfy in the name OF the God oil
Abraham TO the Babylonian empire. He suddenly
however, rebelled and the great King marched upon
the Holy City. We have but few particulars Of the
siege. II lasted eighteen months. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
reared up outside the walls huge mounds OF
earth, and upon these again high towers were
constructed. 80 as TO defend the BaDylonlan archers
and at the same time enable than to throw their
darts and arrows with effect into the City. Inside
the walls the Jews were last dying by famine and
by what Josephus quantity terms presidential DIS.
last they grew too weak numerically resist the
foe. The city and the Temple were destroyed alter
they fell into the hands OF the great King Suisse
quenty Jerusalem sustained seges Of greater less
severity by shishaK, King OF Egypt; by Antochus,
by Ponpey and by Herod. Then, In the second year
OF tho reign OF Yespasian came the terrible siege
OF Tltns, which was marked by horrors that make
the heart sick 10 contemplate. Inch by inch the
Jews disputed the posse sion OF the doomed
city, though diviGed by intestine strife and per-