_The Siege of_ Olumpagh; _An excellent Stratagem by_ Smith; _Another
not much worse._
After the loss of _Caniza,_ the _Turks_ with Twenty thousand besieged the
strong Town of _Olumpagh_ so straitly, as they were cut off from all
intelligence and hope of succour; till _John Smith,_ this _English_
Gentleman, acquainted Baron _Kisell,_ General of the Arch-dukes Artillery,
he had taught the Governour, his worthy Friend, such a Rule, that he would
undertake to make him know any thing he intended, and have his answer,
would, they bring him but to some place where he might make the Flame of a
Torch seen to the Town; _Kisell_ inflamed with this strange Invention,
_Smith_ made it so plain, that forthwith he gave him Guides, who in the
dark Night brought him to a Mountain, where he shewed three Torches
equidistant from the other, which plainly appearing to the Town, the
Governour presently apprehended, and answered again with three Other fires
in like manner; each knowing the others being and intent; _Smith,_ though
distant seven Miles, signified to him these Words: _On Thursday at Night I
will charge on the East, at the Alarum, salley you;_ Ebersbaught answered,
_he would,_ and thus it was done: First he writ his Message as brief, you
see, as could be, then divided the Alphabet into two parts thus;
_A. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. k. l._
_I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I._
_m. n. o. p. q. r. s. t. v. w. x._
_2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2._
_y. z._
_2. 2._
* * * * *
{MN} _The siege of_ Olumpagh.
{M-1} The first part from _A._ to _L._ is signified by shewing and hiding
one link, so oft as there is Letters from _A._ to that Letter you mean;
the other part from _M._ to _Z._ is mentioned by two Lights in like
manner. The end of a Word is signified by shewing of three Lights, ever
staying your Light at that Letter you mean, till the other may write it in
a Paper, and answer by his signal, which is one Light, it is done,
beginning to count the Letters by the Lights, every time from _A._ to _M._
by this means also the other returned his answer, whereby each did
understand other. The Guides all this time having well viewed the Camp,
returned to _Kisel,_ who, doubting of his power, being but Ten thousand,
was animated by the Guides, how the _Turks_ were so divided by the River
in two parts, they could not easily second each other. {MN-2} To which
_Smith_ added this conclusion; that two or three thousand pieces of Match
fastened to divers small Lines of an hundred Fathom in length, being armed
with Powder, might all be fired and stretched at an instant before the
Alarum, upon the Plain, of _Hysnaburg,_ supported by two Staves, at each
lines end, in that manner would seem like so many Musketteers; which was
put in Practice; and being discovered by the _Turks,_ they prepared to
encounter these false fires, thinking there had been some great Army:
whilst _Kisel_ with his Ten thousand being entred the _Turks_ quarters,
who ran up and down as Men amazed, it was not long ere _Ebersbaught_ was
pell-mell with them in their Trenches; in which distracted confusion, a
third part of the Turks that besieged that side towards _Knowsbruck,_ were
slain; many of the rest drowned, but all fled. The other part of the Army
was so busied to resist the false fires, that _Kisel_ before the Morning
put two thousand good Soldiers in the Town, and with small loss was
retired; the Garrison was well relieved with what they found in the
_Turks_ Quarters, which caused the _Turks_ to raise their Siege and return
to _Caniza:_ and _Kisel_ with much honour was received at _Kerment,_ and
occasioned the Author a good Reward and Preferment, to be Captain of Two
hundred and fifty Horse-men, under the conduct of Colonel _Voldo,_ Earl of
_Meldritch._
* * * * *
{MN-1} _An excellent Stratagem._
{MN-2} _Another stratagem._
* * * * *