ANNALS OF A FORTRESS.
[Illustration: MAP OF THE LAND OF OHET.]
ANNALS OF A FORTRESS.
BY
E. VIOLLET-LE-DUC.
TRANSLATED BY BENJAMIN BUCKNALL,
ARCHITECT.
[Illustration]
BOSTON:
JAMES R. OSGOOD AND COMPANY,
LATE TICKNOR & FIELDS, AND FIELDS, OSGOOD, & CO.
1876.
UNIVERSITY PRESS: WELCH, BIGELOW, & CO.,
CAMBRIDGE.
TRANSLATOR'S NOTE.
The Fortress whose transmutations during successive ages are so vividly
described in the following pages is an ideal one; its supposed situation
is on the Cousin, an affluent of the Saône. The practical genius of the
author indicates the position which, in view of the new eastern
frontier, should be fortified in order to command the Saône.
To his unrivalled talent as an architect, Monsieur Viollet-le-Duc adds
the highest qualifications of the military engineer. In this branch of
applied science he is a recognised authority; and it may not be out of
place to notice here that he was frequently consulted by the late
Emperor respecting the permanent defences of the country. It is not too
much to assert that if his recommendations had been carried out the
investment of Paris would have been rendered impossible, whilst the
progress of the German invasion elsewhere would have been attended with
greater difficulties. As colonel of engineers, no officer displayed
greater energy, skill, or bravery, in the defence of the city; and every
operation planned and directed by him during the siege was successful.
Within two or three days after the signing of the armistice, the
Germans had done their utmost to destroy all evidences of their works of
investment. Nothing, however, had escaped the vigilant eye of M.
Viollet-le-Duc. In that brief space of time he had surveyed and
accurately noted all these works of investment; plans and descriptions
of which are given in his interesting memoir of the siege. Upon the
outbreak of the Commune, he was solicited by its chiefs to take the
military command; and had he not made a timely escape would probably
have paid the penalty of his life for refusing that questionable honour.
From his retreat at Pierrefonds he was recalled by General MacMahon, to
assist the Versailles troops in re-entering Paris. It is deserving of
mention that in his absence a devoted band of craftsmen thrice gallantly
defended his house from being burnt and pillaged.
In presenting the _Histoire d'une Forteresse_ in an English form, the
translator has considered it impossible to do justice to the original
without adhering to its archaic style and manner; and aware that a
translation must lose something either in point of sense or style, his
chief aim has been to give a faithful rendering of the sense.
BENJAMIN BUCKNALL,
_Architect._
OYSTERMOUTH, SWANSEA,
_February 11, 1875._
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
THE FIRST RETREAT 1
CHAPTER II.
THE OPPIDUM 11
CHAPTER III.
THE FIRST SIEGE 26
CHAPTER IV.
THE COST OF DEFENDERS 65
CHAPTER V.
THE SECOND SIEGE 69
CHAPTER VI.
THE PERMANENT CAMP--FOUNDATION OF A CITÉ 90
CHAPTER VII.
THE FORTIFIED CITÉ 97
CHAPTER VIII.
THE THIRD SIEGE 108
CHAPTER IX.
THE FEUDAL CASTLE 157
CHAPTER X.
THE FOURTH SIEGE 178
CHAPTER XI.
THE FIRST DEFENCES AGAINST FIRE ARTILLERY 226
CHAPTER XII.
THE FIFTH SIEGE 239
CHAPTER XIII.
THE CITÉ OF LA ROCHE-PONT IS FORTIFIED BY ERRARD DE BAR-LE-DUC,
ENGINEER TO THE MOST CHRISTIAN KING OF FRANCE AND NAVARRE 275
CHAPTER XIV.
THE SIXTH SIEGE 282
CHAPTER XV.
THE TOWN OF LA ROCHE-PONT IS FORTIFIED BY M. DE VAUBAN 304
CHAPTER XVI.
THE SEVENTH SIEGE 315
CHAPTER XVII.
CONCLUSION 354
EXPLANATION OF SOME OF THE TECHNICAL TERMS USED IN THIS BOOK 385
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
FIG. PAGE
1. MAP OF THE LAND OF OHET _Frontispiece_.
THE SAPPER _Vignette_.
2. THE OPPIDUM 14
3. RAMPART OF THE OPPIDUM 15
4. GATES OF THE OPPIDUM 16
5. THE NÉMÈDE AND THE DRUIDS' DWELLINGS 16
FIRST SIEGE.--SIGILD AND TOMAR 32
6. " " WOODEN TOWERS OF THE OPPIDUM 35
7. " " ADVANCED WORK OF THE OPPIDUM 46
8. " " ASSAULT ON THE OPPIDUM 55
9. THE TOWN AND CITÉ D'AVON (WAR OF THE GAULS) 70
10. SECOND SIEGE.--THE ROMAN 'AGGER' AND 'VINEÆ' 79
11. " " A STIMULUS 80
12. " " THE MOVABLE TOWER 82
13. " " ATTACK ON THE STRONGHOLD OF THE OPPIDUM 86
14. THE ROMAN PERMANENT CAMP 91
15. GATES OF THE CAMP 93
16. THE GALLO-ROMAN TOWN. CITY JULIANA (_to face_) 99
17. SECTION OF THE RAMPART WALL 103
18. PLANS OF THE NORTH GATE 104
19. VIEW OF THE NORTH GATE 105
20. GENERAL VIEW OF THE GREAT SOUTHERN TÊTE DE PONT 106
21. THIRD SIEGE.--THE AGGER 123
22. " " WORK BEFORE THE EAST GATE 124
23. " " THE 'VALLUM' 125
24. " " THE NORTHERN SALIENT 126
25. " " BURNING OF THE WOODEN BRIDGE 128
26. " " THE ATTACK--THE MOVABLE BRIDGE INTENDED FOR
CROSSING THE SMALL ARM OF THE RIVER ABONIA 131
27. " " THE AGGER 139
28. " " THE ONAGER BATTERY 141
29. " " THE MINE AND COUNTER MINE 142
30. " " THE BREACH MINE 145
31. " " DEFENCE OF THE BREACH 146
32. " " THE BREACH OCCUPIED BY THE ASSAILANTS 147
33. " " MINING BENEATH THE NORTH-WEST CORNER TOWER 151
34. " " MINING BENEATH THE NORTHERN RAMPART WALL 153
35. THE OLD CASTLE OF LA ROCHE-PONT 167
36. THE CASTLE OF LA ROCHE-PONT OF THE TWELFTH CENTURY (_to face_)
168
37. BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF THE CASTLE OF LA ROCHE-PONT 172
38. BRETÈCHE OF THE BRIDGE 184
39. FOURTH SIEGE.--THE BURGUNDIAN INTRENCHMENT OF CONTRAVALLATION
185
40. " " NIGHT SORTIE OF THE GARRISON OF THE CASTLE
(_to face_) 187
41. " " THE BESIEGERS GET POSSESSION OF THE BARBICAN 191
42. " " THE CAT 193
43. " " THE BOSSON (_to face_) 197
44. " " THE BREACH AND THE BURNING OF THE NORTH GATE 199
45. " " THE TAKING OF THE BAILEY (_to face_) 210
46. " " THE SMALL BOSSON 212
47. " " THE MOVABLE TOWER (_to face_) 222
48. THE TOWN OF LA ROCHE-PONT IS FORTIFIED BY CHARLES THE BOLD 228
49. BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF THE NORTHERN BOULEVARD AND FRONT 230
50. MASONRY TOWER FOR ARTILLERY 231
51. BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF BOULEVARD AND RAMPARTS 233
52. TÊTE DE PONT AND CAVALIER 237
53. FIFTH SIEGE.--ATTACK ON THE NORTHERN BOULEVARD 243
54. " " DEFENCE OF THE NORTHERN BOULEVARD 249
55. " " ASSAULT ON THE BOULEVARD 253
56. " " ATTACK OF THE OLD FRONT (_to face_) 255
57. FIFTH SIEGE.--THE OLD NORTH GATE BATTERED BY FIRE ARTILLERY 256
58. " " TAKING OF AN ARTILLERY TOWER (_to face_) 266
59. THE BASTIONS OF ERRARD DE LE BAR-LE-DUC 277
60. THE NORTH WORK 279
61. ONE OF THE BASTIONS 280
62. SIXTH SIEGE.--GALAS' WORKS OF APPROACH 289
63. " " THE ATTACK ON ONE OF THE BESIEGERS' PLACE D'ARMES
(_to face_) 290
64. " " FORCIA'S PLAN OF SIEGE 298
65. VAUBAN'S DEFENCES 305
66. VAUBAN'S OUTWORK 307
67. SECTIONS OF THE OUTWORK 309
68. TRACE OF THE OUTWORK 311
69. REVÊTEMENT OF THE BASTIONS 313
70. SEVENTH SIEGE.--THE THEORETICAL ATTACK OF VAUBAN'S WORK
(_to face_) 337
71. " " THE THIRD PARALLEL AND THE CROWNING OF THE COUVERT WAY
(_to face_) 338
72. " " CAPTAIN ALLAUD'S ADVANCED WORK 341
73. " " SECTIONS AND INTERIOR VIEW OF THE WORK 347
74. " " CAPTAIN ALLAUD'S CRÉMAILLÈRE WORK 341
75. " " ATTACK ON THE WORKS OF COUNTER-APPROACH 347
76. ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE PRINCIPLES OF ATTACK AND DEFENCE 358
77. DITTO 358
78. DITTO 359
79. APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLE: "WHAT DEFENDS SHOULD ITSELF BE DEFENDED"
361
80. ILLUSTRATION OF THE ALTERED CONDITIONS NECESSITATED BY ARTILLERY
OF LONG RANGE 362
81. PLAN OF FORTRESS SHOWING HOW THOSE CONDITIONS ARE MET 364
82. BLOCK PLAN OF THE DETACHED FORTS 365
83. THEORETICAL PLAN OF A MODERN FORTRESS 366
84. EMPLOYMENT OF THE POLYGONAL SYSTEM, DETACHED FORTS 372
85. DEFENSIVE SYSTEM OF GREAT INTRENCHED CAMP 375
ANNALS OF A FORTRESS.
"Je sçais bien qu'il faut perdre, qu'il faut gaigner, et n'y a rien
d'imprenable; mais desirez cent mil fois plustost la mort si tous
moyens ne vous deffaillent, que dire ce méchant et vilain mot: 'JE LA
RENDS.'"--_Comment._ de MONTLUC.
CHAPTER I.
_THE FIRST RETREAT._
Many winters, as we are told by the old men of the district, have passed
since human beings first settled in the land of Ohet, a somewhat
extensive valley of varying breadth, traversed by a winding stream
running southward till it flows into a great river.
The sides of the valley present a series of hills of moderate height,
descending by gentle slopes where it widens, and more abruptly where it
narrows. On the steeper hill-sides grey crags jut out, and the ground is
strewn with fragments of rock. Ascending the stream for some three hours'
walk from the point where it joins the great river, we find on the right
another stream separating into several small branches in a more elevated
valley. In summer, some of these branches dry up, others form pools,
whose banks are covered with reeds and water-lilies. The inhabitants of
the vale dread this valley, which they believe to be haunted by evil
spirits. It is dangerous to wander there, because of the number of bogs
covered over with leaves and decaying branches in which the unwary sink.
The forest in this valley is so dense, the plants and bushes are so
thickly interlaced with the trunks and branches of dead trees, that
the rays of the sun hardly penetrate through it, and only illuminate
pools of water covered with a mantle of green. A kind of promontory
divides the two water-courses at this point (Frontispiece--Fig. 1);--the
river running from the north-west, and the smaller stream from the
north-north-east. This elevated part of the country is covered with
thick woods, and the inhabitants of the valley seldom go there except
to hunt the wild ox, the boar, the wolf, and the deer. Beyond, the
country seems a wilderness; and strangers who occasionally visit the
inhabitants of the vale to exchange amber, copper, gold, salt, and
coarse woollen or hempen fabrics for skins of beasts, never come except
by the way where flows the great river. The occupants live in families,
in the open spaces amid the woods and on the banks of the rivers,
inhabiting conical huts, made with stakes set in the ground, joined
at the top, and covered with branches, earth, and rushes. The father
of the family occupies one of these huts with his wife and children,
and as his sons grow up, they build another cabin and take a companion.
The products of the chase and fishing, with the wild roots which they
dry and crush between stones, are their only means of subsistence; they
do not till the soil, nor have they any flocks or herds. Our informants
add that they never had to fight men like themselves, and that if any
disputes arise between the families, they call together the oldest
chiefs of the other families to arbitrate between them. Those who are
unwilling to submit to their judgment are banished from the valley,
together with their families; they descend the shores of the great
river, and are no more heard of.
When these old men are further asked whether there were other human
beings before them settled in the valley, they answer that there were;
but that they were small men--dwarfs--who ate earth, and had no bows and
arrows to kill the wild beasts, nor hooks to catch fish, nor canoes to
cross the river; that at the approach of the present inhabitants, these
dwarfs disappeared, and took refuge underground, whence they came out
sometimes in the night to do mischief--to cut the fastenings of boats,
or sink the boats themselves--to cause children at the breast to die, or
to break the bows, or warn the animals of the forest of an intended
chase, so that they might get out of the way.
For some time a report has been current--brought by strangers who have
found their way along the river into the valley--that an alien race of
great stature and strength, with fair hair, and mounted on horses, have
already overspread the neighbouring countries, driving away their
inhabitants, or killing those who do not fly at their approach; speaking
an unknown tongue, and undertaking nothing without first deliberating in
great numbers, and consulting the elders and women, sparing none but
children, and employing these in labours of all kinds. This news has
spread great consternation in the valley; the chiefs of the families
meet together, and determine to watch by turns at the mouth of the
river; young men posted at regular intervals are to give warning, by
loud cries, of the arrival of the fair-haired people, so that all the
inhabitants of the valley may be quickly warned, and take refuge with
their families in the woods situated on the promontory which divides the
river from the smaller stream at their confluence; lastly, each is to
furnish himself with provisions such as will be sufficient for a
hunting expedition of several days; and then they will consult as to
what course shall be adopted.
Meantime, the elders of the people take counsel. They decide that at the
first cry of alarm, and while the invaders are entering the valley by
one of the banks, all the inhabitants of that side shall cross in the
boats to the opposite side shore, in order to unite with those who
inhabit that side, and that all together they shall hasten to bring
their cargoes to the point where the valley divides, so as to moor the
boats below the promontory on the left bank above the mouth of the
stream; that the women, children, and old men shall take refuge on the
promontory, so that the able-bodied, thus separated from the fair-haired
men by the river and the rivulet, will be able to deliberate whether
they should use their bows or fly to the forest above. Some days after,
just when the sun is beginning to decline, the valley resounds with the
cry of alarm, a hundred times repeated, announcing that the fair-haired
people are advancing and entering the valley on the western side.
Immediately the whole country--silent but a few minutes before--begins
to be filled with a continued hum; most of the inhabitants of the right
hasten in their boats to the left bank; but some, either through
negligence, or because they have been away from their dwellings, cannot
follow the advice of the elders.
In the meantime, the invaders advance with caution: first, a detachment
mounted on horses are seen riding round the woods, assembling in the
openings, and appearing to deliberate before going further. A body of
them have captured some unhappy loiterers among the inhabitants of the
valley, who, fastened with cords, are driven onwards by their captors,
and closely interrogated, but they do not understand what is said to
them.
In a little while, at every visible point in the direction of the river,
the valley appears dotted with men on foot and on horseback, and with
chariots; and every now and then shouts arise. The sun sinks upon the
horizon, but the shouting continues to be heard, and the columns of
smoke ascend from all sides; night comes, the valley appears lit up with
fires, and silence gradually supervenes.
Assembled at the foot of the promontory, along the banks of the two
streams, the men of the land of Ohet have concealed their boats among
the bulrushes; they have sent up the women, the children, and the aged
to the plateau; they dare not light any fires, lest they should attract
the attention of the invaders. The night is spent in fruitless
deliberation; some bold young hunters propose to take advantage of the
sleep of the fair-haired people to cross the river and fall upon them as
they would upon wild beasts, and to kill them all with their stone
hatchets; but the chiefs of the families consider that they are too few
in number for the execution of any such design; they urge that this body
of invaders is perhaps followed by others, that they have horses and can
easily escape, that they appear to be tall and strong; and, moreover,
that they do not appear to have killed the inhabitants they met with, as
the strangers had reported.
At break of day the valley echoes with unusual sounds, such as the
inhabitants of the land of Ohet had never heard before. It is not the
shouting of men, nor the songs of women, nor the bellowing of wild
bulls. These noises spread terror among the fugitives. They all abandon
the boats and climb the promontory; there, in the woods, they can see
through the trees what is taking place in the valley: They soon perceive
a numerous body of men on the opposite side, not far from the river.
Some canoes which had been forgotten are being guided up the stream by
the invaders. They go through the rushes, unfasten the boats, and draw
them up with loud cries on the shore opposite the promontory. These
cries are answered from other quarters, and the whole body rush to the
shore. But at this juncture the chiefs seem to interfere; they parley
for some time, and appear to threaten those who are impatient to get
into the boats, often pointing to the plateau above. The main body
retire again from the shore, and a dozen men only get into two boats,
which make for the opposite bank at the foot of the promontory. With
them are two of the inhabitants of the land of Ohet, tied by the neck
with leathern thongs. They land together, put the captives before them,
and ascend to the plateau. The twelve fair-haired men are armed with
sticks, terminated by a long, bright, metal point. Some hold bows in
their hands, with the arrows in place. They are dressed in short tunics
of ornamented stuffs, their arms bare, and their legs up to the knee
bound round with leathern thongs, to which are fastened covered sandals.
About their loins is a belt of skin, to which is suspended a bag, also
of skin, with the hair of the animal preserved, two knives--one long,
the other very short--and a hatchet, the blade of which is of bronze;
their necks and wrists are adorned with strings of large glass beads, or
with circlets of metal. Many have their hair fastened on the top of
their heads, with large pins of bone or bronze; others have their hair
divided into long tresses. Their beards have been carefully removed,
while their moustaches reach down to their breasts. Their aspect is
terrible, for they are tall; their light blue eyes, inclosed by black
lines, sparkle like diamonds beneath bushy brows dyed of a brilliant
red.
Approaching to within fifty paces of the brow of the promontory, where
the ground is somewhat clear, they stop, and one of the captives speaks
thus: "The fair-haired people have captured several of us; they have
done us no harm; they have not burned our huts, nor killed the women and
children. They wish to live in peace with us always, on the same ground.
They will not hinder us from hunting or fishing, or from remaining with
our wives and children. They say that the land is good, and can support
a much greater number of inhabitants than it does now. They bring an
abundance of things useful to man. They teach youths to ride, and to use
arms against evil men. They say in fine that we have nothing to fear,
and that you may return to your dwellings.
"I am told all this by one of their people who speaks as we do, and who
once lived in our valley, from which he was banished. They also say that
if you will not return to your homes and live in peace with them, they
will kill us all like wild beasts, for they are both numerous and
strong. They will await your answer here until the sun reaches the
middle of its daily course. This is all we have to say."
Several of the elders of the valley then came out of the wood and
advanced towards the captives; but the party of fair-haired men made
signs to them to come no farther, and fitted their arrows to the strings
of their bows. The captive who had already spoken, again addressed them:
"Do not come any nearer; deliberate among yourselves, and give an answer
quickly. This is all we have to say."
The old men thereupon assembled, and having cut some branches of trees
on which they seated themselves, one of them spoke thus: "These
fair-haired people with painted faces are more numerous than we; they
have murderous, weapons, and horses, and are brave; we are not able to
drive them out of the valley; if they desire to live with us in peace,
as they say they do, why not consider them as friends? Is it to their
advantage to kill us? No. They possess many things which we have not,
and are provided with what they need. Have you not observed the flocks
and herds, the loaded waggons, and the women and children that accompany
them? They are not empty-handed robbers. Let us accept the conditions
they offer us."
One of the hunters, among the bravest in the valley, then rose and spoke
in his turn: "Why do these people with painted faces come into our
valley? It is to take possession of it and drive us away. They are
strangers to us, and we have never done them any harm. Why do they not
remain where they were born? Will there be fish enough in the river and
enough wild animals in the forest to feed them and us? They will take
all and leave us nothing. Fighting against them is impossible, it is
true--but we can fly. There are other valleys and other rivers not far
off. Let us take our wives and children with us; I know the woods as far
as three days' journey. Let us leave our huts and our boats, and go and
settle far away from these strangers." After the utterance of these
contrary opinions a hundred voices were raised; some supporting the
advice of the old man, others that of the hunter.
A few young men even wished to fall upon the little troop of strangers
and massacre them.
Some of the most venerated of the inhabitants of the Val d'Ohet tried
more than once to impose silence and make themselves heard, but the
tumult continuing to increase, the assembly was broken up into groups,
and the women began to cry out and lament and the children to weep.
Meanwhile the little party of fair-haired men had begun to cut some
bushes and briars and to make a rampart with them.
Not long afterwards twelve boats crossed the river, and sixty of the
strangers came and joined the first twelve. These were bearing twelve
oval shields of wicker-work covered with skin. They set up these shields
by means of stakes driven in the ground, and placed themselves behind
them; only their heads painted red and blue and their sparkling eyes
remained visible. They were laughing together loudly.
Midday was at hand, and confusion continued to prevail among the
fugitives. Then were heard again those strange sounds which had so much
alarmed the unhappy inhabitants of Ohet at dawn; and the shore opposite
to the promontory was covered with a multitude of fair-haired men in
several detachments, all armed. They began to cross the river, and to
seat themselves in a line on the shore beneath the plateau. Then the
captive who had already spoken advanced alone toward the forest, and
when he was within hearing, said: "My friends, my brethren, you are
going to be attacked: and we are to be killed before your eyes. Have
pity on yourselves--have pity on us; come down to the fair-haired men;
they will do you no sort of harm; they have respected your houses and
the women that have fallen into their hands. Do not hope to defend
yourselves, for they will kill you with their keen weapons!" At this
last appeal the fugitives became silent, and one of the inhabitants of
the valley, who had remained since the morning without speaking a word,
rose up. He was a short, robust man, of dark complexion and crisp hair;
he was well known as a skilful carpenter, and the best boats were his
handy work. "There is no more time for discussion," said he. "Let those
who wish to stay in the valley come out from the wood, and let the rest
hide themselves as quickly as possible in the forest. They will be able
to fly with their families; for the strangers do not know how many we
are. As for myself, I remain where I was born." A great number assembled
round the carpenter with acclamations, accompanied by their wives and
children; and all together without a moment's delay showed themselves to
the troop of strangers. "We will return to our dwellings," was all the
carpenter said to the captive interpreter, and then they advanced
towards the little camp.
Many had bows and stone hatchets. "Throw down your arms," said the
captive; "throw down your arms, you have no need of them." The invaders
who had taken up their position on the shore, dividing into two bodies,
were rapidly climbing the sides of the promontory, to the right and
left; so that in a few minutes the carpenter and his companions were
surrounded by an innumerable crowd, which penetrating the mass of the
fugitives, separated them into small parties and took possession of the
few weapons which had been retained by some of their number.
The strangers laughed, skipped, and leaned their brows on the breasts of
the inhabitants of the valley in token of good will. Thus some hundreds
of the natives went down towards the river surrounded by their new
guests. They were compelled to get into the boats, and they went back to
their houses, which had been completely pillaged. Many of the huts
remained vacant, and the new-comers took possession of them, without
troubling themselves much respecting the inhabitants and what had become
of them.