CHAP. IV.
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.