If this siege were not interesting on account of its forming part of
the noble struggle which rescued the Netherlands from the domination
of the Spaniards, it would command our notice from being the time and
place when one of the great scientific operations of war was first
brought into use.
The Spaniards having penetrated, in 1599, into the island of Bommel,
formed by the Wahal, in the duchy of Gueldres, hastened to lay siege to
the capital city of that island. Prince Maurice came to its succour,
with the greater part of his army. He encamped on the opposite bank
of the Wahal, reinforced the garrison with a thousand men, and, with
great rapidity, threw two bridges over the river, above and below
the besieged city; the first, destined for the infantry, was but
a collection of little barks; but the second, for the cavalry, was
composed of large pontoons, and was wide enough for the passage of
two chariots abreast. Having completed this operation, he ordered
three thousand infantry and four hundred horse, whom he charged most
particularly with the defence of Bommel, to cross over into the island.
This place being too small for such a numerous garrison, it was lodged
without, and immediately covered itself with a good intrenchment, well
flanked with redoubts, and defended by a wide ditch. This intrenchment
furnished the first model of what has since been called the _covered
way_.[18] This happy invention contributed much to the failure of the
Spanish expedition. They had not yet perfected their intrenchments,
when the Dutch artillery, established on the banks of the Wahal, the
fire of the armed barks, and that of the place, thundered all at once
against their ramparts. The Spaniards, however, after many efforts,
succeeded in sheltering themselves from this multiplied tempest; they
raised good intrenchments, they placed cannon in battery, and began to
assail in earnest both the city and the intrenched camp. The besieged
did not oppose a less number of works or less courage to the Spanish
attacks. Towards the end of May, the garrison of Bommel fell all
at once upon every one of the enemy’s quarters; it might have been
supposed that they came to fight a regular battle, and not to clear
out trenches or overthrow works. Both sides fought with the greatest
resolution; but at length the resistance of the Spaniards disheartened
the Dutch, and they retreated after a contest of three hours. They
returned to the charge the following night, persuaded that they
should surprise the besiegers. They succeeded in the first moments;
but the Spaniards having recovered themselves, the Dutch were obliged
to abandon their attack. Three days after, they perseveringly made
fresh efforts, which proved likewise unfortunate. Fatigued with their
endeavours to overcome so many obstacles and such obstinate enemies,
the Spaniards, finding they made no considerable progress, determined
to raise the siege towards the end of June, after having lost two
thousand men.