The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-07-06

month. Peronne Is the center of tri-
angle, two sides formed by the River
Somme and Somme marshes, and the
third side dominated by the heights
of st. Quentin. The only defense on
this side was a narrow ditch, three
strong towers and fragment of an
cient wall. The Comte de Nassau,
prince Of Orange, marched upon the
place with numerous batteries and at
tackled upon this side. The only de-
tenders were some gentlepeople belong
ing to the neighbortood and few SOL
diers, afterwards reinforced with
hundred lancers under the command OF
the great General la Marck, Seigneur
de Fleuranges.
Planting his batteries on the heights
Of st. Quentin, Nassau proceeded to
lombard the principal buildings of the
town for three days. Then, judging
that he had frightened the inhabitants
enough, he sent herald to demand the
surrender of the city and to warn her
defenders that If they did not yield In
twenty-four hours every man would be
put to the sword. Herald" replied
Fleuranges, "you will tell the Comte de
Nassau that he will find all at his dis
posal when he Is here. In the mean
time he will permit us to salute him in
passing" This pleasantly Infatuated
Nassau, who redoubled his efforts and
announced his Intention Of hanging all
the leaders at the gates of the city He
found himself, however, fighting not
| against garrison Of soldiers. but
against the whole population of the
town. What destruction his cannon
balls did in the day was repaired in
the night by the incredible efforts OF all
the men and women of the place who,
admirably organized, began at night
/ fall to fill the breaches In the walls
and worked ceaselessly till dawn, so
that Peronne was always ready for
further defiance by the time Nassau's
guns began in the morning. Inside the
walls, however, the casualties were
heavy, and powder began to run short.
The duke Of Guise had come to the re-
! lief with small force across the
marshes, a band of 400 archers, each
man carrying ten pounds of powder In
two sacks hung round his neck. 1t
proved, however impossible to force
way into the town. All the drummers
and trumpeters Of the army with their
instruments were then added to the re-
lieving force and led forth over the
marsh with orders both to musicians
and archers to make as much noise
as possible and to march about In sep
arate parties.
This simple ruse appears to ha,t
confused Nassau, who imagined tha
large re-enforcements were at hant
and kept his army on the alert al
night. In the morning no new army
was visible, but the noise was ex
planned. The drummers and trumpeter!
were seen being hauled up into safet!
by ropes over the walls Of Peronne.
Great Tower Blown Up.
Nassau thought his chief difficult.
lay with the great tower, once tn
prison Of Charles the Simple, whicl
was strongly garrisoned. He gave or
ders that it should be mined. TIL
Comte de Dammartin was commando
of the tower. Knowing the danger hi
friends entreated him to quit the post
He refused, as he considered the towe
the key of the whole position, and tina
| 1T was his duty to remain. When til
mine exploded and the tower fell Il
, and several heroic companions me
, their death.
!, 1t was her civilian population tina
saved Peronne. The chief gentlema
|, of Picardy gathered within her WALL
resolved on her defense at all cost
!. and organized voluntary tax to pa
. the army. D'Estournel, the riches
: man in the province, opened his grams
q ries for the use of the poor and SUI
= ported the garrison. His wife an
children were at his estate in the couI
], try. At the approach of the enemy
a the city he brought them thither
!. show his confidence. By his fine e.
q ample of public spirit and resolutio
= he kept up the courage of the inha
= itants and turned all into heroes. Ft
3 many years sermon In praise of Jea
d'Estournel was preached on the ann
:, versary of the raising of the siege.
woman, to whom tradition gives II
name Of Marie Fourrce, immortalizt
= herself as a leader Of valor and r
r. source.