Part 48

During four days, the besiegers were employed in constructing three galleries to cross the Rua Quemada. Two of these failed. By means of the third they succeeded in establishing themselves in the ruins of a house which formed an angle of the Cozo, and of the Rua del Medio. A building, called the Escuelas Pias, commanded several traverses, made for the defence of the Cozo. Aware of the importance of this post, the assailants made several unsuccessful efforts to gain possession of it. They then attempted the adjoining houses; but in this also they failed. The system of blowing up the houses, now adopted, was favourable to the besieged; for the enemy, who established themselves on the ruins, were thus exposed to the fire of the surrounding buildings. In the meanwhile the continual succession of formidable and unforeseen obstacles, which presented themselves to the French soldiers, had damped their ardour; while the spirits of the besieged, who had to contend against famine, fever, and the French army, were yet unbroken.

The inner town is encircled by the Cozo, which reaches at both extremities to the river; and the French, in order to connect their operations with those of Gazan, on the left of the Ebro, determined, at all risks, to gain possession of it. The convent of St. Francisco, therefore, became their immediate object. A mine was exploded, which brought down part of the building; and a severe contest ensued, which lasted for two days. The Spaniards were at length driven out by the bayonet--the superiority of physical, as well as of numerical strength, being on the side of the assailants.

From the tower of this building, the French now commanded the street, for a musket-shot on either side. There, however, their progress was for a time arrested. The buildings in the Cozo were large and massive; and from their construction with roofs of arched masonry, nearly incombustible. Experience had perfected the Zaragozans in their defensive warfare; and the contest was continued with, if possible, augmented pertinacity. Three days were the French sappers successfully opposed in their endeavours to cross the Cozo. The university was partially breached by the explosion of two small mines. The besiegers then endeavoured to carry the building by assault; but they were met by a fire so destructive as to compel them to retreat.

Hitherto the suburb on the left of the Ebro had been exempted from attack, since Gazan’s failure on the first night of the investment. That officer, availing himself of some ambiguity in his orders, had declined to re-engage in active operations; nor was it till Lannes arrived, with authority to enforce his orders, that Gazan was induced to resume the offensive.

On the 7th, the convent of Jesus, on the left of the road to Lerida, was attacked. Trenches were opened against it; and twenty battering pieces having effected a breach, it was carried with little loss, the building not being considered by the besieged as of material importance. The enemy then succeeded in establishing a lodgment to the right and left.

On the 18th, the suburb, after two unsuccessful efforts, was carried by assault. A tremendous fire from fifty guns soon laid open the way to the assailing columns. By mid-day a breach was effected in the convent of St. Lazarus, commanding the bridge; and the defenders, after a strenuous resistance, were driven from the building. All communication between the suburb and the city was now cut off; and the French advancing to the river, intercepted the retreat of about 1500 men, who, enfeebled by disease and suffering, were made prisoners. The capture of St. Lazarus necessarily involved that of the suburb, which was without ammunition or provisions, yet many of its defenders continued to wage a fierce but hopeless war in the streets. The loss of the besieged amounted to about 2000. The brave Baron de Versage, who commanded on the Ebro, was killed.

The besiegers, imagining that the courage of the garrison had been abated by this irreparable misfortune, continued their operations with vigour. By means of mining, two enormous breaches were made in the university--both of which were attacked and carried; and the traverses of the Cozo were at length abandoned by the Spaniards. In the mean time, Palafox had been smitten with the dreadful disease, whose ravages had been more widely spread than even those of famine and the sword. This admirable and heroic leader, who, for above a month, had been unable to quit the vault where he lay stretched on a bed of suffering, at length saw the necessity of resigning the command.

On the 19th he transferred his authority to a junta, of which Don Pedro Ric was appointed president. A council was immediately assembled, to deliberate on the condition of the city, and the measures most proper to be adopted. At this meeting it was stated, by the general of cavalry, that only 62 horses remained, the rest having died of hunger. Of the infantry it appeared there were little more than 2800 men fit for service. Ammunition was nearly exhausted; and should a shell penetrate the Inquisition, their only manufactory of powder would be destroyed. The fortifications were stated, by the chief engineer, to have been almost utterly demolished. There were neither men nor materials necessary for repairing them; and bags of earth could no longer be formed from want of cloth.

With regard to the measures to be adopted, the junta were divided in opinion. Twenty-six voted for capitulation; eight against it. The latter were averse to surrender, while even a possibility of succour remained. With proud gallantry of spirit, the opinion of the minority was adopted by the junta. A flag of truce was sent to the enemy, proposing a suspension of hostilities, with the view of ascertaining the situation of the Spanish armies; it being understood, that should no immediate succour be at hand, the junta would then treat for a surrender. This proposal was peremptorily declined by Marshal Lannes; and the bombardment recommenced.

On the 20th, the garrison made a last and unsuccessful effort to recover two guns which the enemy had captured on the preceding day. Affairs were now desperate. The fifty guns which had been employed in the attack of the suburb, now opened fire on the city; and the streets of the quay were laid in ruins.

Thus situated the junta ordered measures to be taken to ascertain the sentiments of the people with regard to the situation of their city. Two-thirds of it were in ruins. Fire, famine, and slaughter, had done their work; and from 300 to 400 persons were daily dying of the pestilence. Under such circumstances, the junta declared that they had fulfilled their oath of fidelity--and that _Zaragoza was destroyed_. A flag of truce was dispatched to the French head-quarters, followed by a deputation of the junta, to arrange the terms of capitulation. Marshal Lannes was at first disposed to insist on unconditional surrender. The proposal was indignantly rejected by the deputies; and Ric declared, that rather than submit to it the Zaragozans would die beneath the ruins of their city. “I, and my companions,” said this noble patriot, “will return there, and defend what remains to us as best we may. We have yet arms and ammunition, and if these fail we have daggers. Should the Zaragozans be driven to despair, it yet remains to be proved who are to be victorious.”

In this temper of the garrison, Lannes did not think it prudent to refuse granting terms. It was accordingly conceded that the troops should march out with the honours of war: that the heroic Palafox should be suffered to retire to any place where he might think proper to fix his residence, and that all persons, not included in the garrison, should be suffered to quit the city, to avoid the contagion.

On the 21st of February, 1809, the city was delivered up to the French; and thus terminated one of the most strenuous and extraordinary struggles of which history bears record. The resistance continued for 52 days with open trenches; 29 of these were consumed by the enemy in effecting an entrance--23 in the war subsequently carried on in the streets and houses. By their own account, the French threw above 17,000 bombs into the city, and expended above 160,000 pounds weight of powder. More than 30,000 men and 500 officers perished in the defence, exclusive of a vast number of women and children. The amount of loss sustained by the besiegers was studiously concealed--that it was very great, cannot be doubted; and the contemplated operations on Lerida and Valencia, for which the army was destined, were in consequence given up.

When the garrison quitted the city, only 2400 men were capable of bearing arms; the rest were in the hospitals.

Among the prisoners, was Augustina Zaragoza, who had distinguished herself in the former siege. At the commencement, she had resumed her station at the Portillo gate. When Palafox visited the battery, she pointed to the gun she had formerly served with so much effect, and exclaimed, “See, general, I am again with my old friend.” Once, when her wounded husband lay bleeding at her feet, she discharged the cannon at the enemy, in order to avenge his fall. She frequently led the assaulting parties, and with sword in hand mingled in the daily conflicts which took place in the streets. Though exposed, during the whole siege to the most imminent danger, Augustina escaped without a wound. On the surrender of the city, she was too well known to escape notice, and was made prisoner. But she had already caught the contagion; and being taken to the hospital, she subsequently succeeded in effecting her escape.

The terms of capitulation were shamefully violated by Lannes. Palafox was sent a prisoner into France; and the city became a scene of pillage and atrocity. Nothing was to be heard but the drunken shouts and cries of the French soldiery. Even the convents were not spared; their gates were beaten in, the costly plate seized, and the decorations torn down; while the monk, with uplifted hand and scowling brow, listened to the drunken revelry and obscene jests of the heavy mailed cuirassier.”

ZEALAND, NEW.--Discovered by Tasman in 1642. Captain Cook planted several spots here in 1773. Great Britain’s right to this island recognized at the general peace of 1814. Since then it has continued slowly developing its inland resources. A rather disastrous war was waged against the British forces by the New Zealanders not long ago; but after some months of continual annoyance the Aborigines were subdued and the island quieted, with every prospect of commercial development.

ZELA, BATTLE OF.--In which Julius Cæsar defeated Pharnaces, King of Pontus, and sent the Senate the well-known laconic letter of three words: “_Veni, Vidi, Vici._” Fought B.C. 47.

ZELICHON, BATTLE OF.--Fought, April 6th, 1831, between the Poles and Russians. The Russians were terribly defeated, with the loss of 12,000 men, killed, wounded and prisoners, and Deibitsch, the Russian General, narrowly escaped being taken prisoner in the rout.

ZEUTA, BATTLE OF.--Fought, between the Germans and Turks, the former commanded by Prince Eugene; and it is memorable for the tremendous slaughter of the enemy, A.D. 1697.

ZORNDORFF, BATTLE OF.--Fought between the Prussian and Russian armies: the Prussian commanded by their King. They gained a great victory over the forces of the Czarina of Russia--21,529 men being lost to the Russians, while the Prussians lost 11,000. Fought, August 25th and 26th, 1758.

ZOUAVE OR ZOU-ZOU.--“The _gamins_ of Paris, we believe, first applied to the world-renowned Zouaves the pet name of _Zou-Zous_; and France has confirmed the pleasant diminutive. We know well enough that Zou-Zou has certain faults; but we also know that he possesses some estimable qualities. On the whole, we gaze at his scarred bronzed face and long shaggy beard with respect, and do not shrink from cordially clasping his horny brown hand, powder-begrimed though it be. We read all about his valorous doings, and his somewhat ludicrous and not unpardonable misdoings, during the late Italian campaign, as chronicled daily by his own countrymen, and we shall now compile some interesting examples of his exploits and racy peculiarities, which have fallen under our notice.

When the Zou-Zous embarked at Marseilles, they leapt on board the vessels as though charging a column of Croats, crying to their comrades, “Come, gentlemen, take your tickets for Austria!” Arrived at Genoa, they received their fair share of flowers and kisses from the enraptured signoras, and embracements and orations from their lords and fathers.

M. Achard visited the camp of the famous 3rd Zouaves, and gives us a graphic sketch of the fire-eaters reposing. We must premise that they had only arrived four or five days from Algeria. “It was,” says he, “like a little corner of a great war picture. The canvas town possessed regularity, animated order, picturesque and lively movement, and one felt the presence of discipline, and a pleasing sense of gaiety and fearlessness. Behold the little, narrow, short tents reserved for the sub-officers; their neighbours large, and similar to a squab coffee-pot, for the captains and commandants; others ample and conical, each for five soldiers, ranged in ranks; groups of Zouaves round a candle, in a low tone chatting about their African campaigns; some silently smoking a pipe apart; two or three lying on the ground in corners, reading letters and dreaming, their comrades singing the chorus of songs; the evening dies away and sleep succeeds. Here and there, under the canvas, a little lamp gives light to an officer, who writes in haste a last letter. Little noise, great order; each battalion has its place. As the darkness increases, we see red sparks in the air along the tents. The cigar enlivens the promenade, then the sparks disappear one by one; the bivouac fires are extinguished; the mules of the regiment bite at each other, and endeavour to break their straps; close by, the Arab horses of the officers, digging the earth with their hoofs, snuffing the air, devoid of the warm odour of the desert, and shaking their manes. * * * The next day, at seven o’clock in the morning, the regiment, containing three battalions on a war strength--2700 men, exclusive of officers--was reviewed by Prince Napoleon. They looked models of hardy active soldiers. Their faces, which appeared cut out of Florentine bronze, had the manly ardour and the confidence resulting from habitual acquaintance with danger. They were in marching order. At eight o’clock they started, clarions at their head and tarbouch in front for their first _étape de guerre_, twenty-seven kilometres, and in the evening they encamped in the mountain, at Toreglia, very near the Austrians!”

We may remark that one great reason for the very singular celerity with which the Zouaves encamp, provide their food, etc., is the fact, that each company, or portion of a company, or “tribe,” as it is called by the men themselves, is subdivided for what we may term domestic duties, each individual being charged with a distinct and special function; and constant practice naturally renders them amazingly expert at doing whatever they are called upon to daily and nightly perform.

The Zou-Zous, and their African friends the Turcos, are said to have an invincible preference for fighting at close quarters with the bayonet. A certain quantity of cartouches were served out at the moment of departure, but these cartridges were not forthcoming at Genoa. The officers were angry, and required the production of the missing ammunition. “Be not troubled,” said the Zou-Zous; “leave us alone, and we will return you ten for one at the first battle.” A stubborn old sergeant added, “We wish to see if the Austrians are like the Kabyles.” In fact, their point of honour is to charge with the bayonet, and to charge at a swift run. Their activity is incredible; and they have been aptly called “foot cavalry,” which is hardly a paradoxical jest like our own time-honoured sneer of “horse marines.”

The Zou-Zous have a marvellous capacity for physical endurance. Some black coffee, and a biscuit or piece of hard ammunition bread steeped in it, generally formed their breakfast, and then they were able and willing to march with their very heavy knapsacks a whole day in the broiling sun before dining. A Zouave’s knapsack is full of a wonderful variety of articles, and, when in marching order, he actually carries the enormous weight of sixty pounds! But Zou-Zou is not an anchorite; he does not voluntarily endure hunger when he can lawfully, or (as some whisper) even unlawfully, obtain an appetizing addition to his rations. At Palestro, the Zouaves drolly distinguished themselves, by marching with a pleasing variety of edible prizes secured about their persons. They bore quarters of lamb, immense pieces of raw meat, salad, cabbage, and all kinds of vegetables; upon the shoulder of one was perched an old cock, tied by the foot by way of precaution! All the world knows how omnivorous Zouaves are; and, by way of illustration, we will only mention the astounding fact, that at Solferino they daintily feasted on fillets cut from the backs of the horses killed in that tremendous battle!

The Austrians sent some daring spies into the Zouave camp, fully and carefully dressed as Zou-Zous, speaking French, and affecting in all respects the habits and language of the men among whom they treacherously stole. But, as an old soldier observed, “the asses who wear lions’ skins are recognized, not by the dress, but by the language.” So it was with these Austrian spies. The touch-stone which infallibly detected them was the Arab, or rather the Sabir tongue. The Sabir is a dialect used by the Zouaves and the Turcos, and is a singular mixture of French, Italian, Maltese, Spanish and Arabian. Let us see what the Sabir can do with the wicked hawk who has stolen into the Zouave dovecot, disguised in innocent plumage like their own.

“A spy, dressed as a Zouave, holding his cap behind him, accosts other Zouaves, (true ones these). They talk of war, ambuscades, battles; they drink and sing. An old Zouave addresses the spy: ‘Didou, camarade, gib el touchran; j’ai laisse mon sipsi dans la gitoun.’ This, in Sabir, signifies, ‘Comrade, hand me some tobacco; I have forgotten my pipe in the tent.’ The spy, surprised, does not reply. ‘Enta machache narl el Arabi?’ (Dost thou not understand Arabian?) continues the Zouave. The same silence. Suspicions are aroused: the pretended Zouave is closely questioned. He is confused; he confounds Blidah with Orléansville: finally he is seized, and duly shot.”

No body of men attracted more notice, on first landing in Italy, than the 3rd Zouaves. Nearly all the officers had risen from the ranks, or, at any rate, all had been sub-officers, and had won their epaulettes and crosses in Africa. The men could reckon a number of years’ service, both in Africa and the Crimea. Their flag was in tatters, and tied together with shoemaker’s thread.

At Palestro, these 3rd Zouaves performed a brilliant feat of arms. A wounded Zou-Zou subsequently described it most graphically. “We were,” said he, “very tranquilly opposite a rivulet; we beheld five or six horsemen upon an eminence; it was said that they must be enemy’s hussars, watching us, and the word passed to prepare to have a chat with them. But all in a moment, and without a note of warning, a parcel of bullets, accompanied by a hail of cannon balls, saluted us. The rogues had mounted cannon on the hills, and their tirailleurs skulked in the corn, where one could not see them. Whilst we looked out, the _mitraille_[45] mingled in the conversation. The colonel saw whence it came by the smoke. The officers turned towards us. ‘Eh Zouaves!’ cried they, ‘to the cannon!’ We leapt in the stream. There was water up to our elbows, and so our cartridge boxes took a bath; we were no longer able to fire a single charge. From the stream to the batteries we had to run about 300 metres. Ah, we already surpass the _pas gymnastique_!

The _mitraille_ mowed the grass around our feet. In the twinkling of an eye we carried the guns!”

Among the wounded Austrians taken prisoners, was a young man of twenty-two, who had previously studied at Paris five or six years. He fought at Palestro, and when he saw the Zouaves running and leaping with bayonets in advance, he cried, “Comrades! they are Zouaves! We are lost!”

An Austrian officer related that General Jellachich, struck with astonishment at sight of the Zouaves in action, exclaimed, “They are not men, they are tigers!” And then he muttered, “They told me so, but I did not believe it.” A good many others of his countrymen had reason to think and speak very much the same. Yet, even among the Zouaves there are some who pre-eminently distinguish themselves by their surpassing activity, daring, and successful valour.

Zou-Zou has a humour of his own even in the heat of battle--grimmest of all grim humours! Endless anecdotes are told of their strange speeches and stranger deeds in the midst of the storm of battle. Many of these would be painful to our readers, but the following give relief to the stern cruelties of war. Would that the kindly or generous feelings which they record could be displayed on more peaceful scenes!

During a bayonet fight, a Zouave fought against an Austrian, and broke his thigh with a violent butt-end blow; the Austrian, in falling, broke the arm of the Zouave. There they lay side by side, their mutual fury extinguished. The Zouave, who had a smattering of Italian, said to the Austrian, “Thou art brave, and I will not leave thee to die like a dog. I have yet an arm and a pair of good legs, and I will carry thee to the ambulance.” He was as good as his word. When he arrived with his burthen, he said to the surgeon-major. “You see, major, that we are on a level; cure us quickly, that we may do our duty afresh.” We will add, that the compassion and kindness manifested after a battle by the erewhile fierce Zouaves towards their wounded enemies, is a fine trait in their character. Like our own matchless seamen, the Zouaves, are lions whilst the battle rages, and lambs after it is ended.

Here is a touching incident. The day after the battle of Palestro, the Zouaves buried their dead comrades in a great pit dug on a little eminence. When the earth was levelled, they bid adieu, with emotion, to their slain brothers-in-arms. “Comrades!” cried a sergeant, “may God receive you! ’Tis your turn to-day--to morrow it may be ours!” With these simple words the Zou-Zous left their dead brethren to repose on the field of their victory.

And the wounded Zou-Zous, how bear they the agony of musket ball, or bayonet thrust, or sabre gash, when the excitement of the actual combat is over? When Commandant de Bellefonds, of the Zouaves of the Guard, was wounded at Magenta, his men wished to carry him to the ambulance. “Remain in your place,” said he. “Leave me, my friends; I forbid you to remove me: continue to fight.” After the Austrians were repulsed, the Zou-Zous sought their brave officer and bore him away. He eventually recovered.

The Zouaves being by far the most popular and brilliant corps in the army, it is considered, both by officers and privates, an absolute privilege to wear their uniform, and both sub and superior officers have been known to refuse to exchange into line regiments even with prospect of higher rank.