The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-29
NEW YORK HERALD SUNDAY JANUARY 49, 1s7-TRPLE SHEET

humanity touchingly royal allowed several
thousands OF the more helpless OF the
end OF August the Duke OF Parma marched TO the
relief Of the city, and Henri after not very reso,
lutte attempt surprise 1t by an escalade forced
To raise the seige Ia the second week OF September
ROCHELLE.
Thirty years later, Ill those same HuguenOt wars
another French CITY, La Rochelle suffered siege
OF singular severity Rochelle was the headquarters
OF the Huguenot party. II was Q seaport ana con-
tanned about forty Thousand inhabltants. who were
almost entirely Protestant. lnhamea by the pro-
misses Of England, the Rochellois ope Y, raised the
standard OF rebellion IN 1897 Al hrst the Duke
DAMON was sent down to reduce them to submis-
sion. but soon after King Louis AID Cardinal
Rcheleu themselves went to the scene Of opera
hons Richeeu assumed the conduct or the s.ege
ana displayed striking capacity ana eher Ih
mshs AZ sae same , Time R we pes sgt se
soon compelled TO relinqush the attack,
leaving guns. standards and prisoners behind. To
reduce the city Richelieu now undertook a work In
volving an enormous expenditure OF patent labor.
This was no less task than TO construct wall or
exception OF small opening In the centre, CON-
manded by heavy batteries. This work was begun
winter was carried on with ceaseess diligence until
In the spring II was nearly completed. A large
rendered is destruction a work OF extreme dim.
Guilty; and the lorts at the landwafu ends were
EngsS sn returned ~ to NE ATTACK tney Int
impossible 10 communicate with Rochelle. Stlll the
Rochellos held out with the obstinacy Of fanaticism
Their Mayor had been elected since the beginning
OF the siege, and gave significant indication
Of his temper by laying mis- dagger on the
refusing to accept the offce unless he were
permitted to use his weapon against the first
citizen who whispered surrender while lie
promised TO make no resistance II In the event OF
his becoming craven his fellows should turn its point
against his own breast. The pepulace were in time
reduced to feed on leather on nusses thrown up by
the sea, on seaweed, and even yet more L athsome
food. Once more an English Meet ATTEMPTED to
to their relief and made gallant attempt with
q powder vessel 10 break through the boom. But
the effort was AIN. Soon the Duchess de Rohan and
a1attfa In Antu cd Ia
beeaguering lines, but permission was refused.
Such starving wretches attempted to escape were
rebels or penned between the walls and the besieg-
ing lines, while King LOUIS, from an apartment
their agones. Sixteen thousand men persisted OF
hunger, and still the sturdy Mayor held out. There
were still enough men, he sald Ito shut the gates"
and roughly boxed the ears OF Judge who
proposed TO captuate But at last. on the 9th Oc-
tober. having been for three DAYS absolutely with
out food, the city surrendered. after thirteen
months SIEGE obtaining, II must he confessed, very
favorable terms from the generosity OF Rchelieu.
AAIENS.
| About the same period two other interesting
sieges took place-th0se OF Amiens and Bordeaux.
Amens was then, as now, the capital OF Pcardy and
rich and populous city, Boosting fifteen thousand
adult males capable OF bearing arms. They had de-
against ns G1 IN re o o.
pense with regular garrison. The Spanish Cover
nor OF Durlens, hearing that though vlgliant at
night, after the manner OF Durgher soldiers they re-
Taxed their waJchful care by day, resolved to
surprise them. During the night he collected
them In some thickets beneath the walls. AT day
break the gates were thrown open and twelve span
little cart, while others bore baskets OF nuts and
Irut on their heads-presented themselves. One OF
these disguised men upset his pannier and the SOL
dlers OF the garrison laughingy scrambled for ITS
contents When the cart reached the centre OF the
so that 1t remained stationary. The assault was
then made. The portcullis was hurrieily dropped
down, but was caught on the cart In few min.
uteS the town was taken. In the following year
Henry w., however, retook It after severe slege
He encamped before the city with $4,000 men and
1000 English auxlares. The Spaniards maze sew
eral desperate and bloody sortes, but were CON-
PEELED at last by famine to Yield.
held in 1850 by the Princess de Conde. in behalf
o. hr isse the Marshal ,oon DE
sand troops accompanied 10y King Louis in person.
She pawned her jewels and melted down her plate
to furnfsh the means for defending the city. To
hurry the works the princess and her ladies
themselves labored with their delicate hands in ras
ing the ramparts. Seldom" says HISTORIAN
"have rampartS been raised Dy so graceful q band
They carried the necessary materials baskets
trimmed with lsabeco!ored ribbons uhe Condo
while the dukes who planned the works which they
were executing brought them trays of fruit and
sweetmeats and the little d Enghen trotted TO and
fro on his pony and thanked them for their indus
try.r AT last the city was surrendered, under the
most favorable conditions, to the King.
CALAIS,
| among French cities has also gained some reputs-
tion from couple OF severe sieges mat II has had
10 endure. The first ls OF course, that famous one
by the English forces, under Edward H., III lS47.
IL held out with the greatest lrmness Tor a year.
and then John de Vienne, the Governor, forced
10 surren der Internationally, as the population
were reduced to The last extremity OF famine.
Edward had been so enraged AT the obstInacy OF
the garrison that he mad resolved 10 put them all TO
death; but he al last simply insisted tina, six pro-
mlnent citizens should be sent to him, barefooted
and Dareheaded, carrying the keys OF the city III
their hands and with ropes around their necks.
nn W0Ia nang Inc rss ~ t
city, The entreatles OF his wife Philippa,
however, induced HIM to- refrain from SO
nuI q
who mad delivered themselves into his hands had
voluntarily accepted their late The Queen having
begged their lives, carried them into her tent, or
dered repasu TO be prepared for them, made them
present OF money and clothes and dismissed them.
the city and repeopled it with Engishmen. 1t
NAMED In English hands until 1858. II had by that
pregnabe but 1t was taken after short siege by the
Duke OF Guise. This time IT was taken by surprise,
not reduced by famine. during the winer The city
| was surrounded by Marshes lmpassabe except over
dyke guarded by the two castles OF ST. Agatha and
| Newman Bridge. Owing to this the English were
accustomed to recall great part OF the garrison at
the enu ofautumn and send them back In the spring.
The Duke OF Guise IN consequence OF this foolish
weakness of the defensive force, was enabled to
the dyke and thus after 200 years Of English
occupation. CALAIS again became French city.
In servia, on the banks Of the Danube, has been
several times besieged. In 1855 the Turks first
| attacked It, but were repused by John Hunniades
with loss OF 40 900 men. Ii was, however, taken
by Sultan Soiyman In 1922 retaken by the imperial
lists In 1858, and again fell into Turkish hands Two
years later. In LII 1t suffered severe siege by
| Prince Eugene. The Turkish garrison was $4,000
strong. The sultan, as soon as he heard Of the in
vestment OF the city, despatched force of 100000
| men TO It's relief. This force, outnumberlng the
besegers three TO one, enclrcled the army OF Prince
| Eugene Here was, indeed. singular position
| The Austrian army investing the city were them
! selves again envroned by TN outer ring Of iOes
| Eugene detached 10000 men to repel any
sorte that might be attempted by the garrison, and
then gave battle to the Turks, who mad taken pos
session OF some heights overlooking the position and
| had further protected themselves by some well con-
structed redOubts. Little dreaming that they would
be attacked the turks were not very vigilant and
| allowed themselves to be surprised. The battle was
fought dense log, at the dead OF night, and the
| Mosem army was completely cut to pieces.
| peace, cedng Belgrade TO the Austrians, Was al
| most Immediately afterwards completed.
VIENNA
| suffered great siege by the Turks In 1922 under
Solyman the Magnificent, who had an army OF
2Q0.NOO men; but he was forced to raise the siege