The Polish Cossacks

During the enemy's operations to divert the course of the river, Firley, now more than ever resolved to sell his life dearly, was not inactive; and as he united in his disposition an iron stubbornness of will with consummate skiQ in all branches of the art of war, he ordered some houses to be demolished, and on their site a second entrenchment to be constructed, immediately behind and parallel with the first: within this again a third, on the descent; and finally, an inner stockade of baggage-waggons and caissons, linked together by iron chains: he even made all requisite dispositions to defend himself and his men to the very last extremity, in the vaults and under-ground works of the fortifications. As soon as the small river had been intercepted, and a number of breaches made in the outworks, a heavy cannonade announced a fresh attack on the part of the Cossacks. Strong columns of the enemy advanced to the storm; but when, after a vigorous resistance, the Cossack troops had carried the first intrenchment, they were not a little surprised at finding a second and a third, wherein they met with so warm a reception, that, bravely repulsed, and in their turn fiercely attacked and pursued, they left the streets of Zbaraz encumbered with the corpses of their slain, and with the bodies of their wounded comrades cut off in their retreat. In the intervals thus gained from attack, Firley ordered all the muskets and ammunition to be collected from the dead, and distributed but few rounds of cartridge to each of his men, in order that they might be thereby induced to take surer aim. He had recourse, moreover, to a singular stratagem, the success of which even surpassed his hopes. He had perforations made in the intrenchments; and in these apertures were planted several rows of muskets, well charged, and so arranged as not to be perceptible to the enemy. These muskets were all carefully levelled so as to tell with precision on the ranks of an assailant; and to each trigger was attached a string which led from other stronger ropes, disposed in such a manner as that on violently shaking the latter the muskets were discharged in vollies of fifteen at a time. To guard against an attack by surprise, the main cords of this species of " infernal machine " passed through holes under ground; that is to say, into the subterranean barracks or excavations beneath the intrenchments, wherein were lodged some of the wounded and disabled from active service, who received the requisite instructions for the management of this novel means of defence.