Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-12-25
I'D the bones of Gaul, Goth and
Teuton. the hosts Of the Cim-
merii, the legions Of Rome and


Teuton, the hosts Of the Cim-
merii, the legions of Rome and
all others who have battled
about the walls Of "Namur
the Strong" thrill at the familiar
tread Of marching men. the sound Of
trumpets and the shouting above
them?
One wonders.
Namur was the strongest place In
all Transalpine Gaul when stormed by
Caesar in 81 B. c., writes e. p.
Bowles. He tells us that 1t was the
capital of the Aduatuci in Gallia Bel
gica, and after that day he "overcame
the Nervii," the inhabitants abandoned
all other strongholds and centered on
that place for last stand.
Who first fortified that precipitous
hill at the confluence of the Sambre
and the Meuse is not known definite
ly, but, back OF the Caesars, the his
tory of western Europe is lacking in
details. We know, however, that as
early as 700 B. c. the Bolg, or Belg,
tribe Of the Cimmerii, from over near
the Black sea, began migrating into
western Europe and locating in that
country we know now as Belgium.
Caesar says that the town we know
as Namur was the strongest place in
all Gallia Belgica hence. 1t was prob
ably that tribe OF Belg that fortified 1t
several hundred years before Caesar.
Fought For Many Times.
Goth, Hun, Teuton. visigoth. Gaul,
Saxon. Norseman. Briton, Roman,
Frank, Burgundian, have died by hun.
dreds and thousands within bowshot
Of its walls. Down the ages wars have
rolled about the foot OF that hill. and,
compared with its sieges, It has been
taken only a few times. Caesar took
1t nearly two thousand years ago after
several of his legions had been
crushed by the charging Belglans.
The dukes OF Burgundy were obliged
to discipline its inhabitants several
times between 1850 and 1900; 1t suf.
fered during the civil wars in France
along about 1850. Don John OF Aus,
tria died In his camp before II in 1873.
Louis XIV OF France sat down before
1t with an army Of 10000 men In 1892.
A correspondent wrote at the time:
The place was taken after few
days resistance, parley having been
beat by the drummer who never dis
covered (told) who ordered him to do
80" The French strengthened Its fort.
ifications, but the place was captured
by the Dutch and English under VII.
liam OF Orange in 1895. after desper-
ate siege. Marshal Boufiers, tho
French commandant. was permitted to
march out with the honors OF war,
drums beating and flags flying. He
rode at the head OF 1890 men. all
that was left OF the garrison Of $4,000.
Namur was again taken by the
French in 1901. but was restored to
Austria. but In 1746 the French cap
tured II again after n continuous BON.
bardment OF seven days and nights
At that time II had q garrison OF
1000 Austrians, many OF whom were
killed by the blowing up OF two pow.
der magazines. In 1884 Joseph II Of
Austria destroyed the ancient FORTH.
cations. In 1892 the French took Il
again, evacuated II in 1893, retook Il
in 1894. again fortified II and held II
until after Waterloo. when II was de-
llyered to the allies. II was again forti
Nod IN 1917 updar tho tnanaottnn -
the duke Of Wellington, but in 1866
the Notifications were razed. Since
that time Belgium has constructed
modern forts.
The original Notifications consisted
OF n glacis, counterscarp. deep ditch
across the base OF the triangle OF land
formed by the two rivers, and double
walls OF great thickness. In add.
tion, there wero outworks, ravellns.
half-moons, etc. The citadel or cas-.
tie was on the summit OF the hill. an
unusually strong fortress. protected by
double walls with bastions. These
comprised the Notifications at a time
when batteringrams, catapults, on.
azers, and other forms OF balllstae
were used. and when scaling ladders
and battle axes were used in an es.
calado while the defenders tossed
melted lead. boiling water. stones,
beams. grenades, etc. on the besleg.
ers.
Desperate Siege Of 1895.
The siege OF Namur In 1895 was one
Of the most desperate OF those times.
the French garrison refusing TO sur
render until II had lost twothirds OF
its men. The city having been invest
cd on July Q. seven days we're passed