Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-03-08
HUNG IN CHAINS.

lueTe WAS IL BreaI Stlr one luOru-
ing in the little fortified town of
Ziegenhain, in Hessen. All the citizens
seemed to have left their houses, and
if you watched the crowds in the streets
you would see that all were streaming in
the same direction, towards one of the
gates of the town. 1t could be no joy
full, no festal occasion which brought
these people together; for an un-
usual silence pervaded the crowd, and
all faces looked sad and gloomy. The
open space within the gate was lined
with troops - tall halberdiers standing
like statues, and musketeers with their
heavy unwieldy weapons; every man
with boy behind to carry the stand for
his musket-for this was the year 1862,
and these were the only fire arms in use
in those days. Under the deep arch of
the gateway there was Strengthening
apparatus of pulleys and iron chains,
and beneath this stood group of gen.
tlemen, who wore short cloaks, and high
loose boots, and ruffs round their necks,
and slouched hats with feathers. The
crowd stood in sullen expectation; what
was the sight they had come. to see?
They had heard that the late Command
ant of the town, Heinz Won Luder, who
until a few weeks before had borne the
highest authority within its walls, was
that morning to be hung in chains.
Heinz Won Luder was an officer in the
service of the Landgraf of Hessen
Philip, surnamed the Magnanimous,
together with some German princes,
had been drawn into war with the
mighty Emperor Charles ", in order
to protect his subjects, the Hessians,
in the free exercise of their religion.
The Emperor's troops had entered
Hessen, and besieged the Landgraf s
fortresses, among them Ziegenhain.
Ziegenhain was a small fortress, it's
defences were weak, and its garrison
few i'll number; but the man to whom
the defence was intrusted was in him.
self the strength of the stronghold.
He infused spirit into the garrison, en-
couraged the townsfolk, and prevailed
on them to take part in the defence !;
with wonderful activity, energy, and
endurance, he held out for weeks,
resolutely refusing to surrender.
At last tidings came to Ziegenhain
which might well have quenched the
hope and courage of the besieged.
The Emperor having conquered Philips
ally (the Elector of Saxony), the
Landgraf had found himself driven to
make terms with the enemy; for how
could little country like Hessen hold
out against the power of Charles ",
the lord of half Europe? SO Philip the
Magnanimous had been forced, sorely
against his will, to go to Speir, where
the Emperor then was, and make his
submission. Kneeling before Charles,
he was obliged to read petition for
pardon, which the Emperor did not
even deign to answer. But before the
Landgraf had left the town, he was
treacherously seized by the Empcror's
order, and told to consider himself a
prisoner. In order to obtain his liberty,
and the remission of the "ban of the
empire, " which had been pronounced
against him, he was obliged to promise,
among other conditions, to surrender his
fortresses of Cassel, Giesen, and Russell
helm, and forthwith level them to the
ground. Such was in substance the news
which came to Ziegenhain, grieving
and disheartening, as we may well
imagine, the little band which defended
the town so gallantly in the hope of
being relieved by the Landgraf. And
soon after there arrived message from
the Imperial Commissioner, Count
Reinhard of Solms (who had been sent
by the Emperor to see that the Land
gratis promises were fulflled). Count
Solms demanded that Ziegenhain should
instantly surrender, and that it, too,
should have its walls leveled.