Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-03-09

attempt to oppose that passage. He
could only have harassed them without
preventing it, not having any field
pieces at his disposal, and this is the
reason he remained c0oped up in Ir-
kutSk.
Ivan Ogareff, q clever engineer. was
certainly able to direct the operations
of a regular siege, but he had not the
material TO carry forward his opera
tons quickly. So he had hoped to sur
prise Irkutsk, the end of all his efforts.
One can see that things had turned
out otherwise than he had reckoned
On the one hand. the march Of the Tar
tar army delayed by the battle of
Tomsk; on the other. the rapidity with
which the works of defense had been
carried on by the grand duke. For
these two reasons his projects had fail
ed. He found himself therefore under
the necessity of carrying on a regular
siege
Meanwhile by his advice the emir at
tempted twice to take the town at the
price of great sacrifice Of men. He
threw the soldiers against the earth
works which seemed to present some
weak points. but the two assaults were
repealed with the greatest courage The
grand duke and his officers did not
spare themselves on that occasion.
They led the civil population to the
ramparts. Civilians and mujiks did
their duty remarkably well. At the
second assault the Tartars had succeed
p6 i'm fOr0inU Of rho Of tho
town. A fight took place at the be-
ginning of the principal street, the Boil
chaa. which is two versts in length
and terminates at the banks of the An
CARA. But the Cossacks, the gendarmeS
and the citizens opposed to them
strong resistance. and the Tartars had
to return to their positions.
Ivan Ogareff thought then of trying
to win by treachery what force could
not give him. His project. it is known,
was to make his way alone into the
town and present himself before the
grand duke with some plausible tale
to win his confidence and when the mo-
ment came to deliver one of the gates
to the besiegers; afterward. that done,
to glut his vengeance on the brother Of
the car.
The gypsy. who had accompanied
him to the camp Of the Angara, urged
him to put this project into execution.
And, indeed, it was necessary to act
without delay. The Russian troops of
the government of Irkutsk were march
ing to the relief of Irkutsk. They were
concentrating on the higher waters Of
the Lena and marching up the valley.
They would surely arrive before six
days. 1t was necessary, then. that r.
kutsk should be delivered up by treach.
cry before six days.
Ivan Ogareff did not hesitate any Ion
ger.
One evening, the Cd of October, a
council of war was being held in the
large room of the governor generals
palace. 1t was there the grand duke
resided.
This palace overlooked for a great
distance the course Of the river. From
its front windows one could perceive
the Tartar camp, and had the Tartars
possessed artillery of a longer range
they could have rendered it uninhab-
table.
The grand duke, General Voranzoff
merchant, with whom had been joined
q number Of superior officers, had just
passed divers resolutions.
Gentlemen" said the grand duke,
you know exactly our situation.
have a firm hope that we shall be able
to hold out until the arrival of troops
from Iakoutsk. We shall then know
well how to drive away these barbar.
Gus hordes, and it will not be my fault
if they don't pay dearly for this inva
sion of Russian territory
Your highness knows that we car
rely on the whole population of Ir
kutsk," replied General Voranzoff.
EYES," said the grand duke, land
render homage to it's patriotism. ThanE
! God, it has not as yet suffered from the
horrors of an epidemic or famine, ant
| have reason to think it will escape
them. But at the ramparts could no
help admirng their courage. | trus
the chief of the merchants hears my
words. and beg him to report them a:
SUCH
tnHIlh yum hlSbhCSo III tuC LA Ah'
of the town." answered the chief of thu
merchants. May | dare to ask yol
when you expect at latest the arriva
of the army of relief?'
, ''In six days at most" answered thu
grand duke. ga sharp and courageOu
; emissary has been able to penetrat
, into the town this morning, and he ha
informed me that $4,000 Russians ar
advancing by forced marches under tn
: orders of General Kissely. They wer
+ two days ago on the banks of the Lena
at kirensk, and now neither cold no
snow will prevent their arrival. Fift
7 thousand good troops, taking the TAI
tars on the flank. would soon reliev
rs"
To be continued