The New World Analytical Reference - Softcover

Buel, James William

 
9781236462268: The New World Analytical Reference

Inhaltsangabe

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 Excerpt: ... likely to be caught off his guard, for of all men among the Spaniards he was the most alert, intrepid and active. Discovering before he made his attack that the garrison was ready to receive him, Caonabo changed his tactics, and instead of attempting to carry it by assault, contented himself with surrounding the fort with the hope of compelling it to yield through famine. This siege continued for a month, and brought the Spaniards to such great distress that they were compelled to resort to every expedient in order to obtain supplies. Occasional sorties were made by Ojeda, by which a few provisions were procured, but the main dependence of the garrison was in the assistance brought to them by friendly Indians, who managed on many occasions to smuggle in small supplies of food. A characteristic anecdote is preserved of the coming in of one of the friendly Indians with two wood-pigeons for Ojeda. When they were given to him some of the officers looked wistfully at the birds as though they would devour them alive. Thereupon Ojeda took the pigeons to a window and tossing them forth into the air, said, "It's a pity there isn't enough for all of us." It is plain that such a character as this would not easily succumb to any of the harsh conditions which the siege might impose. This long delay also affected the hostile Indians, who, observing how futile had been the results of the siege, began to desert, until at the expiration of a month Caonabo's forces were so much reduced in numbers that he decided to retire from the country. But his ill success in the long effort to destroy the Spaniards at Fort St. Thomas abated none of his determination to visit a sufficient punishment upon his aggressors, and accordingly Caonabo retired into the country and for a...

Die Inhaltsangabe kann sich auf eine andere Ausgabe dieses Titels beziehen.